Struggling Hammers may nail their first points at Everton

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Four consecutive league defeats have tempered the pre-season enthusiasm at West Ham but the Londoners can grab their first points of the campaign at Everton.

Heavy summer investments had West Ham supporters dreaming of being the best of the rest in the Premier League but four games in Manuel Pellegrini’s men are already playing catch-up as they find themselves bottom of the table without a point.

Despite their sloppy start there have been some positives for the Hammers and they have done enough to suggest they can avoid defeat at Goodison Park.

The summer arrivals of Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmolenko and Carlos Sanchez have significantly bolstered their squad and given the huge turnaround in personnel, it’s understandable they have taken time to hit their stride.

The international break may have come as a blessing in disguise and with home league fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United lying in wait, Pellegrini needs a positive result to ease the pressure.

The Hammers have conceded seven goals in their two away trips so far, but those drubbings came at Liverpool (4-0) and Arsenal (3-1). Everton, without the services of the suspended Richarlison, can’t field the same attacking quality.

Brazilian sensation Richarlison, who has notched three goals in his three league appearances, is a big loss for the Toffees and his absence was highlighted in their 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield prior to the international break.

Everton struggled to break down the resilient Terriers, scoring from their only shot on target, and they were lacking ideas.

That stalemate was Everton’s third of the campaign, following draws at Wolves and Bournemouth, and they look short enough given their only win of the season was a narrow 2-1 success over Southampton.

Javier Hernandez is sidelined through illness for the Hammers but they still pose a serious threat with Marko Arnautovic spearheading their attack and their chances at Goodison may have been underestimated.

Recommendations
West Ham or draw double chance
1pt 5-6 general

Team news
Everton
Seamus Coleman is out for two weeks but Idrissa Gueye, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Theo Walcott are set to return. Richarlison is suspended.

West Ham
Jack Wilshere is sidelined with an ankle injury. Javier Hernandez misses out through illness and Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini are long-term absentees.

Key stat
Everton have won only two of their last six home league games.

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