Will it be Premier League 'double' number two of the season for West Ham United when they take on AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium?
Having already beaten the Cherries this campaign in the first-ever London Stadium league fixture, Slaven Bilic’s men will be hoping to inflict another defeat on Saturday’s opponents to sit alongside the home and away wins over Crystal Palace.
Winless in 2017, Eddie Howe’s men will be scrapping as they look to collect enough points to steer clear of a relegation fight but the Hammers are in good form on the road.
Ahead of the vital meeting, whufc.com takes a look at three important battles which could prove crucial come quarter to five on Saturday afternoon.
The most regular men between the sticks for the respective sides this season have been Pole Artur Boruc and Irishman Darren Randolph. The former has been the Cherries’ No1 all campaign, while the Hammers stopper took over the reins from Adrian in November.
The two keepers’ stats are alike, with the pair making a similar numbers of saves per match and keeping clean sheets at more or less the same rate. Randolph, on average, concedes fewer goals than Boruc per game, however.
In fact, only Swansea City and Hull City have conceded more Premier League goals than Bournemouth this term – take note AC and company!
In an important fixture for both sides, Boruc and Randolph will be hoping to shut the opposition out with success on Saturday.
New signings for their clubs this season, both Jordan Ibe and Robert Snodgrass look to create the spark and magic needed to penetrate opposition defences.
Moving south from Liverpool in the summer, it has not been an easy first campaign at the Vitality Stadium for Ibe, and he is yet to find the back of the net or create a goal for the Cherries.
Meanwhile, the same can be said about Snodgrass at West Ham, though the Scotsman was a key man for Hull earlier this term, scoring seven times before his £10.2m move in January.
Snodgrass’ passing stats are far superior, however Ibe loves to get his head down and dribble with the ball, making him a potential danger-man on Saturday should he be selected.
Deployed as both wingers and forwards this season, Josh King and Michail Antonio have much in common.
Having scored eight in the league each, the pair are their sides’ top scorers and much of the attacking burden falls upon their shoulders.
Antonio’s physical threat has proved difficult for most defences to deal with this season, as proven by his statistics, whereas King does perhaps not strike quite as much fear into the enemies’ eyes.
Involved in 26 per cent of the two sides’ 73 strikes, a bet on them being involved if there are goals on Saturday would be a wise one.