West Ham vs Ipswich Preview, Tips and Predictions

This weekend's Premier League clash between West Ham United and Ipswich Town at the London Stadium promises to be an intriguing encounter. Set for Saturday, October 5th, 2024, this match features two teams in need of a positive result as they head into the international break. West Ham, currently sitting in 14th place, have struggled to find form under Julen Lopetegui, while newly-promoted Ipswich, though still without a win, have managed to draw their last four matches and sit one spot behind the Hammers.

West Ham United: Current Form and Tactics

West Ham have had a challenging season under new manager Julen Lopetegui, winning just one of their opening six Premier League games. Their form has been inconsistent, with defensive frailties evident—they’ve conceded 10 goals so far this season. Despite this, they have quality attacking players, including Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá, who will be central to their hopes of turning things around.

Lopetegui is expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to control possession and use Bowen’s pace on the wing, along with Mohammed Kudus’ creativity in the middle. The return of Edson Álvarez from suspension will bolster their midfield. Niclas Füllkrug remains a doubt due to injury, which might see Michail Antonio leading the line again.

Predicted West Ham Line-up:

Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Álvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paquetá, Kudus; Antonio

Ipswich Town: Current Form and Approach

Ipswich Town have managed to go unbeaten in their last four matches, with consecutive draws, and come into this game with a fair bit of confidence despite not having secured a win this season. Kieran McKenna has implemented a high-pressing system that has caused trouble for opponents, including their recent 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Ipswich will likely set up in a 3-4-3 formation, aiming to sit deep and hit West Ham on the counterattack. Liam Delap has been a standout performer, scoring twice against Villa, and will be the key attacking threat for the Tractor Boys. The team will need to be defensively solid to have a chance of getting a result, especially with Harry Clarke and Nathan Broadhead doubtful for the match.

Predicted Ipswich Line-up:

Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves; Hutchinson, Morsy, Phillips, Ogbene; Clarke, Hutchinson, Delap

Key Players

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham): Bowen has been West Ham's most consistent performer, and his pace and direct play will be crucial against Ipswich’s defense.
Liam Delap (Ipswich): Delap has been in excellent form and will be the focal point of Ipswich’s counterattacks, looking to exploit West Ham's defensive weaknesses.

Tactical Battle

West Ham will likely dominate possession, but their recent defensive lapses could leave them vulnerable to Ipswich's counterattacks. Ipswich have struggled to hold leads, and the pace of West Ham’s wingers could expose their defense. The key tactical duel will be whether West Ham’s midfield can break down Ipswich's organized low block, while Ipswich will hope to hit quickly on the break.

Betting Tips and Prediction

• Both teams to score: Given the defensive records of both teams, with neither having kept a clean sheet in recent games, this could be a high-scoring encounter.
• Over 2.5 goals: West Ham have been involved in high-scoring matches recently, and Ipswich’s ability to score on the counter could contribute to a game with multiple goals.
• Draw or West Ham win: West Ham have the quality to edge this at home, but Ipswich’s resilience suggests a draw is also likely.

Prediction

West Ham 2-2 Ipswich Town: A draw seems a likely outcome, with both teams scoring due to defensive vulnerabilities and the attacking talent on both sides