West Ham United face Newcastle on Sunday
The Hammers are 18th in the Premier League
The Magpies are unlikely to secure European football this season
When West Ham United visits Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, they must produce a result if they are to maintain a chance of preserving their Premier League status.
The Hammers are 18th in the Premier League, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur, with two matches remaining. Despite Spurs dropping points on Monday night to Leeds United, Roberto De Zerbi’s side has, in fact, increased the gap between themselves and West Ham in the relegation zone following the conclusion of matchweek 36.
This weekend once again poses a major point in the survival battle. Although Spurs don’t play until Tuesday due to upcoming opponents Chelsea’s involvement in the FA Cup, the pressure is firmly on West Ham not to lose on their travels to the North East.
A loss for Nuno Espírito Santo’s team, combined with Spurs picking up at least a point, would all but relegate West Ham, who have significantly worse goal difference, to the Lillywhites.
Nevertheless, Eddie Howe’s side poses an intriguing fixture. The Magpies are unlikely to secure European football this season, and of course, are in no danger of falling into a basement battle with Spurs or West Ham – they are purely playing the rest of the season on pride. Thus, a team not to be underestimated.
Mateus Fernandes vs Bruno Guimarães
They often say win the midfield, win the game. There will not be many, if any, midfield battles more enticing this weekend than what is anticipated at St. James’ Park. On one side, there’s the recently nominated Young Player of the Season candidate, Mateus Fernandes, and on the other is one of the finest conductors in the country, Bruno Guimarães. Both are their team’s respective heartbeat.
Fernandes, like Guimarães, has the all-rounder profile that makes him seem like he is everywhere, every time, which has boded well with the demands of English football. Equally, the two have a decisive forward thrust in their arsenal that could prove pivotal in unlocking their respective opponents’ defensive block.
Midfield metronomes by nature, it will be on either Fernandes or Guimarães to take early control if their sides are to be successful on the day.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka vs Harvey Barnes
In West Ham’s last outing, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was a commendable performer in the 1-0 loss. The former Manchester United right-back, who made his first start since qualifying for the World Cup with DR Congo, stifled Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard until the Belgian winger’s decisive goal. The performance showed Wan-Bissaka’s swashbuckling defensive prowess, but also his evident tendency to suffer momentary lapses.
Against Newcastle, he will have to be switched on if he is to completely silence Newcastle’s surprise attacking man-in-form. Harvey Barnes is streaky, but out of Howe’s current attacking options, the England international poses the greatest current threat off the left.
Anthony Gordon hasn’t featured in Newcastle’s two previous games, and Barnes has stepped up to produce with two in two. Both times were cameos off the bench, and one would expect, if he doesn’t make the starting line-up on Sunday, the eagerness to contribute off the bench for a third consecutive time will be too great to ignore.
Barnes, like Trossard, likes to float into assuring pockets and punish teams for their awareness with sharp-shooting – the former has seven goals this season. West Ham will have to be conscious not to suffer the same fate twice.
Crysencio Summerville vs Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall joined Fernandes in the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season shortlist. The Newcastle full-back’s season has been typified by an unwavering consistency and, recently, versatility.
Hall featured at right-back vs Nottingham Forrest last Sunday. It was the first time the 21-year-old had played the position all season, yet you wouldn’t have known that from his performance. Despite the switch from his nominal left-back position, Hall held his own at The City Ground.
It is likely that Howe will be encouraged to continue with Hall at right-back, given Tino Livramento’s season-ending injury and Dan Burn’s importance to the physical game Newcastle employs. If that’s the set-up, it will be tested by West Ham’s mercurial winger Crysencio Summerville.
The Dutchman is inconsistent, but when on song, Summerville is a frightening prospect for any full-back in the division, let alone one not playing in his natural position, as seen in the second half against Arsenal.