West Ham United will be looking to bounce back from a series of disappointing results when they host Ipswich Town at the London Stadium for their upcoming Premier League clash. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since their 5-1 encounter back in January 2012, where Ipswich emerged victorious. West Ham, under the guidance of their new head coach Julen Lopetegui, are struggling to gain momentum, having won only two of their first eight matches across all competitions. Their last five games have been particularly concerning, with no victories in sight, leaving the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League standings.
The recent form of West Ham has left many of their fans feeling frustrated, particularly given the significant investment the club made during the summer transfer window. Spending over £120 million on nine new first-team players raised expectations, but the performances so far have failed to deliver the desired results. In their most recent matches, West Ham suffered heavy defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool, before managing to scrape a 1-1 draw against Brentford. Tomas Soucek’s second-half goal in that match helped them avoid another loss, but the early goal conceded within 38 seconds of kickoff to Bryan Mbeumo highlighted the defensive frailties that have been a recurring issue this season.
Lopetegui, while satisfied with his team’s resilience to recover from an early setback against Brentford, is well aware that improvement is necessary. The Spanish manager is under increasing pressure to turn things around quickly, as the club’s fans and board will not settle for mediocrity, especially after their hefty summer spending. West Ham’s home form has been particularly troubling, and they are in danger of losing their first four Premier League home games of the season for the first time in their history.
Ipswich Town, meanwhile, are back in the Premier League after a 22-year absence. Under the leadership of Kieran McKenna, Ipswich have shown signs of adaptation to the top-flight’s demands, though they are still searching for their first victory of the season. The Tractor Boys have drawn their last four league matches, and while they remain unbeaten in those games, their inability to convert draws into wins has kept them hovering just above the relegation zone. Their last match saw them battle to a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, with Liam Delap, their summer signing, scoring both goals in a spirited comeback performance.
McKenna will be pleased with his team’s fighting spirit, but he knows that Ipswich must start turning their positive performances into victories if they are to avoid a relegation battle this season. The trip to the London Stadium represents a significant challenge, but Ipswich will take confidence from their recent meetings with West Ham. The Tractor Boys have won their last two league encounters with the Hammers, scoring six goals and conceding only one, although these meetings took place over a decade ago when both teams were in the Championship.
In terms of form, West Ham’s inability to string together consistent results has been a major concern. They have collected just five points from their opening six Premier League matches, marking the fifth time in nine seasons they have accumulated this few or fewer points at this stage of the campaign. Their performances in all competitions have followed a similar pattern, with one win in their last six games and back-to-back heavy defeats against Chelsea and Liverpool highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. The defensive unit, in particular, has been shaky, conceding nine goals in their last three games, with individual errors and lapses in concentration proving costly.
Offensively, West Ham have struggled to find the back of the net with regularity. Michail Antonio remains their primary option up front, but the Jamaican international has not been as prolific as the Hammers would hope. Niclas Fullkrug, signed in the summer to bolster their attacking options, is sidelined with a calf injury, further limiting Lopetegui’s options in the forward department. Danny Ings and Jarrod Bowen could be called upon to lead the line, though Bowen has mostly been deployed on the wing this season. Edson Alvarez, who missed the Brentford game due to suspension, is set to return, providing a much-needed boost to West Ham’s midfield.
Defensively, Lopetegui has been experimenting with different combinations at the back. Jean-Clair Todibo made his full Premier League debut against Brentford, partnering with Max Kilman in central defense. While both players are talented, they have not yet formed a solid understanding, and the entire backline, including full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri, will need to step up to keep Ipswich at bay.
For Ipswich Town, the focus will be on maintaining their recent unbeaten run while seeking to secure their first win of the campaign. McKenna’s side have been hard to break down, with their last four matches all ending in draws, but they will be looking to convert these solid performances into victories. The Tractor Boys have a relatively youthful squad, with summer signing Liam Delap already showing his quality with a brace against Aston Villa. Delap will likely lead the line once again, supported by an energetic and hard-working midfield.
Ipswich’s key strength lies in their midfield, where Sam Morsy, their captain, and Kalvin Phillips have formed a solid partnership. Phillips, who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, will have extra motivation to perform well against his former club. In defense, Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O’Shea, Jacob Greaves, and Leif Davis are expected to form the backline, while Chiedozie Ogbene and Jack Clarke will provide the width in attack. Ogbene has been a consistent performer on the right wing, and McKenna may opt to start him over Wes Burns, who has been used as an impact substitute in recent games.
Team selection will be crucial for both managers. Lopetegui is likely to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alvarez, Soucek, and Paqueta forming the midfield trio. Mohammed Kudus, who has shown glimpses of his potential since joining from Ajax, will likely start on the right wing, with Bowen operating on the opposite flank and Antonio leading the line up front. The absence of Fullkrug continues to limit West Ham’s attacking options, but Ings could also be given a chance to impress if Lopetegui decides to rotate his squad.
For Ipswich, McKenna may opt for a more cautious approach, playing a 4-2-3-1 formation to ensure defensive solidity while also looking to hit West Ham on the counter-attack. Delap’s pace and finishing ability will be key to their attacking threat, while Phillips and Morsy will be tasked with breaking up West Ham’s play in the midfield. The Tractor Boys will also need to be wary of West Ham’s threat from set-pieces, with Soucek and Kilman both capable of causing problems in the air.
In terms of predictions, this game is likely to be a closely contested affair. Both teams have struggled to find consistent form this season, and neither has been particularly prolific in front of goal. West Ham will be desperate to end their winless run, especially in front of their home fans, but Ipswich have shown they are a tough side to beat, even if they have yet to claim a victory. A draw seems like a plausible outcome, though either team could edge it if they manage to take their chances in front of goal.
Ultimately, this match could be pivotal for both sides. For West Ham, a victory could help alleviate some of the pressure on Lopetegui and provide a platform to build on, while Ipswich will be eager to secure their first Premier League win of the season and move further away from the relegation zone. Both teams have reasons to be optimistic but will need to deliver on the pitch to take all three points.
