Derby County vs West Ham live
Derby County
The home side will be without the services of James Chester because of injury problems. Besides that, Derby should be able to fail a full-strength line against the Hammers.
The hosts are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Joe Wildsmith in goal.
Corey Smith and Haydon Roberts are expected to be deployed as the full-backs here. In the heart of the defence, Curtis Davies is set to partner with Craig Forsyth.
Conor Hourihane is expected to partner with Max Bird in the midfield pivot and the two players will look to win the ball back for their side and shield the centre-backs.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Tom Barkhuizen will start as the wingers here and they will look to provide pace and creativity during counterattacks.
Jason Knight is expected to start as the central attacking midfielder here behind David McGoldrick.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith; Smith, Davis, Forsyth, Roberts; Hourihane, Bird; Mendez-Laing, Knight, Barkhuizen; McGoldrick
West Ham
The Hammers will be without the services of Maxwell Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca because of injury problems. January signing Danny Ings is ruled out with a knee injury.
The Hammers are likely to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with Lukasz Fabianski in goal.
The back three will comprise of Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zuma and Nayef Aguerd. Ben Johnson and Emerson Palmieri are likely to be deployed as the wingbacks and they will look to contribute to both phases of the play.
In the middle of the park, Declan Rice will anchor the midfield with Tomas Soucek and Flynn Downes on either side of him.
Jarrod Bowen is expected to lead the line for the visitors alongside Michail Antonio.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Fabianski; Ogbonna, Zouma, Aguerd; Johnson, Soucek, Rice, Dounes, Palmieri; Antonio, Bowen
Key Stats
- There have been 76 meetings between Derby and West Ham, who lead 27-24.
- In their last meeting, the hosts won 2-1, ending a three-game losing streak in the fixture.
- Derby are without a clean sheet in their last six games in the fixture.
- Only one of West Ham’s five league wins this season have come away from home.
- The Hammers have conceded 25 goals in the Premier League this season.
- Derby County have the second-best defensive record in League One this season.
Derby County vs West Ham live
