Despite the hosts’ poor home form, Chris Sutton believes Burnley can achieve a result against West Ham due to the continuous injury issue at the London Stadium.
Burnley have lost all six of their home games this season, but will be anxious to gain a foothold and confidence from the game, and Sutton predicts a 1-1 draw.
The former Chelsea striker believes that if West Ham are missing Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, and Mohammed Kudus, the hosts will have a decent chance of winning.
“West Ham have a few injury problems in attack, with Michail Antonio definitely sidelined, Jarrod Bowen probably out, and Mohammed Kudus rated doubtful for this game,” Sutton said in his Premier League prediction for BBC Sport [23 November].
“That makes this one a little more difficult to predict, even with Burnley’s dismal home form, which has seen them lose six of their six league games at Turf Moor this season.”
“Vincent Kompany’s team is at the bottom of the table, desperate for any kind of foothold to give them some hope.”
“They might actually get one here, because of the players that West Ham will be missing.”
Burnley need to get something
Burnley will be desperate for a win in this game. That might work in their favor or against them, but in either case, the Hammers must avoid becoming complacent and believing they’ve won the game before it ever begins.
Going away to a stadium where the home team has not won a single point all season can provide a false sense of security. While West Ham are the favorites and should be confident, Burnley are still capable and will compete.
If Bowen, Kudus, and Antonio are all out, it will have a substantial influence on Moyes’ team’s attacking play, and without three of their finest players, it will be a much more difficult challenge than it would have been without those injuries.
West Ham should go into this game with confidence; they are the better team on paper and will be expected to win, but if they allow complacency to creep in, it could turn into a very different affair.
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