This weekend, Newcastle United will face West Ham United in the Premier League.
Newcastle United have 30 points to play for in their quest to qualify for European football next season, with six home points available in the coming days. Newcastle face rivals West Ham on Saturday noon, followed by Everton on Tuesday night.
After a two-week break to rest the legs – with the exception of those on international duty – Eddie Howe will be trying to keep his team injury-free for the closing stretch. West Ham also has European ambitions, but pressure has begun to mount on manager David Moyes in recent weeks.
As usual, the Premier League commentators have made their predictions for the weekend games, so here’s what they think of Newcastle vs West Ham.
Chris Sutton
“Newcastle’s hopes of a trophy ended when they were knocked out of the FA Cup before the international break so it feels like a big end to the season for their manager Eddie Howe, starting now,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “The same goes for West Ham manager David Moyes, who has faced a lot of speculation regarding his future as well as criticism from fans.
“But the Hammers are still in Europe, with a Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen on the horizon, whilst Newcastle’s season has faltered in recent weeks. Newcastle’s only goal now is to finish in the league, and I don’t think Howe can afford to let this season end prematurely. They are four points behind seventh-place West Ham with a game in hand, so a win here would be massive for them.
“And, while Howe’s team has not been as solid defensively this season, I still believe they have a goal in them. That is why I believe they will win this.”
Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 West Ham
Paul Merson
“Newcastle and West Ham have got to start somewhere when it comes to winning trophies,” he told Sportskeeda in an interview. “If it means fighting for a European slot, they must work hard and focus on getting the proper results, particularly in matches like this.
“With the fair play regulations in place, teams are discovering that they can’t rely solely on a large cash inflow to catapult them to victory. We expected that receiving all of that money would significantly assist Newcastle United turn things around, but that has not been the case.
“Newcastle are now 10th in the Premier League table and need to start picking up points. They have had numerous injuries, as do most other teams. Newcastle may not be comfortable in this game, but I believe they will win.
Prediction:Â Newcastle United 2-0 West Ham
