Premier League: West Ham United vs Brentford - Preview, prediction, and team news

The Hammers returned to the fray with a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates on Boxing Day despite a promising start that saw them take a half-time lead through a Said Benrahma penalty.

However, the damage was done before the World Cup break, with defeats to Leicester City, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United putting the Hammers in the predicament they currently find themselves in.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well, Matchweek 17 was fun! 😎 <a href="https://t.co/mJRkTR9N2N">pic.twitter.com/mJRkTR9N2N</a></p>&mdash; Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1608370225061269504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A 10-9 penalty shootout defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup in November also means that the last two wins have come in Europe, which is currently Moyes' only salvation and perhaps the reason why the pressure is not quite as tremendous as it is for other managers.

However, Silkeborg, Anderlecht, and FCSB are a class below the teams they have to beat at home.

Ten of their 14 points this season have come at the London Stadium, so they need to use home advantage and finish 2022 with the result that moves them away from impending trouble.

On the other hand, Brentford will be looking for a second successive away win after their incredible success at the Etihad Stadium before the season break.

After the Boxing Day draw against Tottenham Hotspur, they are now unbeaten in the Premier League for four games and sit in the top half going into the new year.

Coach Thomas Frank has signed a new contract with the Bees until 2027, and the Dane is convinced he can take the team even further.

Nevertheless, he will have been disappointed with the defeat to Spurs, in which they squandered a two-goal lead, although he said afterwards that he had been impressed by the result.

Talisman Ivan Toney was unfazed by the off-field investigations, as the Brentford striker registered his third successive goal on Boxing Day.

His goal against Spurs was his 30th in his first 50 Premier League appearances, and he is just one goal short of his best mark from last season.

Team News

This game comes too soon for Kurt Zouma, as West Ham will make a more likely comeback from his knee injury next week at Leeds United.

Gianluca Scamacca (ankle) was questionable for the Boxing Day game against Arsenal but could not feature, so the Italian has a greater chance of playing.

Nayef Aguerd will likely have to wait a little longer for his Premier League debut, as he is still questionable after the injury that kept him out of action in Morocco's World Cup semifinal defeat.

Maxwel Cornet will be out again due to a calf injury that has kept him out of action for almost three months.

In defence, Brentford duo Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey will be missing, but both are expected to return in early January.

Frank Onyeka will undergo a late fitness test after suffering a hamstring strain, while Shandon Baptiste will be out with an adductor problem.

Backup goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is close to a return after an ankle injury but may leave the club in January. He has not played a single minute in the league behind David Raya since his move from Lazio in the summer.

Prediction

West Ham 1:2 Brentford

1. With the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, West Ham have lost their last four and five of their previous six games in all competitions. With just one win in seven league games, the Hammers sit 16th, one point ahead of the relegation zone, and the pressure is mounting on Moyes.

2. Brentford squandered a two-goal lead on Boxing Day and could not get past a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, which keeps them in 10th place. They are unbeaten in four games but have drawn three of them, with the only win in that streak being a 2-1 victory at Manchester City.

3. Brentford are not in great form and have only won once away from home this season, but they could well come out on top at London Stadium on Friday night.