The Week 4 of the English Premier League concludes on Monday with the clash between West Ham United FC and Huddersfield Town AFC. One side is in the basement, while the other is among those on the attic; and it is not the ones you expect. Will the Hammers finally garner a win, or at least take a point? Will the Terriers continue their unbeaten run?
Find out in our preview below on which club we think would emerge in this battle as West Ham United and Huddersfield play at the London Stadium in the only scheduled fixture for that day. Read on our feature and learn more about the two clubs and their chances of claiming this contest.
WEST HAM UNITED vs. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
3-Way: 1: West Ham United +120; X: +254 Draw; 2: Huddersfield Town +350
Spread -0.5:West Ham United -103; Huddersfield Town +100
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -111
WEST HAM UNITED
West Ham United is in a place where they certainly do not want to be this early in the season. They are currently at the bottom pile of the table, no points to show after three league matches. They have conceded ten goals at this point of the term, suffering 0:4 and 0:3 beatdowns against Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively. In addition, West Ham fell short against Southampton, 2:3. The only victory the club can muster right now is a 2:0 conquest of Cheltenham in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Following Huddersfield, the West Ham Utd Hammers will go on to face another small club that has been doing well in West Brom before taking on Bolton Wanderers in the midweek for the third round of the league cup. They then close out the month opposite Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City. Getting any point before September ends would be a big achievement for them.
Chicharito has two goals for West Ham United, the only ones scored in the league as of this moment. Diafra Sakho and André Ayew were responsible for the goals at the Carabao Cup. Angelo Ogbonna leads his club in passes (149) and clearances (20).
West Ham, for the second year running, has been wasteful in the window. After the Mexican striker, the last signature it secured was from Sead Haksabanović. A late loan bid for Everton’s Kevin Mirallas failed, as did a move for Sporting’s William Carvalho, meant that the window ended with a number of holes in the roster. Chicharito aside, the incomings are poor in comparison to the stars linked. At most, the window was trying to right the wrongs of last season.
Meanwhile, Håvard Nordtveit, Enner Valencia, Raphael Spiegel, George Dobson, Darren Randolph, Ashley Fletcher, and Sofiane Feghouli, have left for other pastures. Robert Snodgrass and Reece Oxford were loaned to Aston Villa and Borussia Mönchengladbach respectively.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Huddersfield Town is competing in the Premier League for the first time ever, and they have to muster every possible resource if they want to remain in the top flight. This is what the club did, moving fast in the transfer window, and they have been better off because of it. Manager David Wagner, an energetic presence who boasts plenty of experience as well as tactical nous, and owner Dean Hoyle went on a signing spree during the summer, and some of their newly minted wards have already started to deliver. Due to this, they have been rewarded with a fast start, instilling a belief in the locker room that the Premier League newbie can beat the drop.
The Terriers are currently in joint seven points, along with Liverpool, Manchester City, and West Bromwich Albion, two points behind the first place Manchester United. Not a bad position for the new kid in town. After a 3:0 beating of Crystal Palace, they have tapered off a bit, winning against Newcastle United, 1;0, before settling to a scoreless draw with Southampton. They also advanced to the third round of the league cup after a 2:1 victory on Rotherham. After the West Ham United matchup, they will go on to face Leicester City, a Premier League success story they are trying to emulate. They then drew fellow PL side Crystal Palace for their third round skirmish in the EFL Cup. Finally, they finish the month against Burnley FC and Tottenham before another international break puts a cease fire in the battle.
Huddersfield does not score much, averaging only 1.33 goals per PL match, but they are good in stopping opponent’s attempts from going in. Only five teams have started a Premier League season with four successive clean sheets. Manchester City was the last to do this, which happened back in 2015-16. A promoted side has never achieved this feat.
Steve Mounié, a transplant from French club Montpellier, leads his squad with two PL goals. Aside from that, he also has team highs in aerial battles won (28) and offsides (6). Laurent Depoitre, coming in from Porto, and Tom Ince, formerly of Derby County, are two transferees who have been a main cog in the first team. Aaron Mooy made his stay at Huddersfield permanent during the summer, having spent the last season on loan from Manchester City. The 26-year old, who was a club record signing back then, was a key performer that helped his team earn promotion through the playoffs, scoring four league goals along the way. Mathias Jørgensen is good value. Jonas Lössl can become the fourth goalkeeper to keep clean sheets in each of his first four Premier League matches, after Pepe Reina, Alex Manninger, and Anders Lindegaard.
Harry Bunn, Nahki Wells, and Luke Coddington are playing now with other clubs. Talks with Burnley for Ashley Barnes did not bear fruit.
West Ham United vs. Huddersfield Town Match Prediction
This is the second time West Ham started a PL season with three defeats. Last time this happened was back in 2010-11, when they finished last and got relegated. The two clubs last met in 1997-98 in a league cup tie that West Ham won with a John Hartson hat trick.
The question is how long Huddersfield Town AFC can maintain this inspired run. Credit to the club for making the most out of a weak schedule and winning the matches they expected to win. Although the Hammers are also due to get out of the rut, I just do not think it would happen against a club that is in high spirits. Therefore, I will go with a close win of the visitors.
My pick: Huddersfield Town (+120)
