West Ham and Crystal Palace meet in the first game of the Premier League weekend, at Upton Park. The sides have mixed fortunes recently, both being led by English managers.
Sam Allardyce's West Ham have had a much improved season so far. After continuously being labelled as a long ball team, Allardyce was forced to change to a more aesthetically pleasing style of play and has done so with ease. Players such as Stewart Downing have been revitalised in the new system, whilst strikers Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia have both been amongst the goals following summer moves. This has left West Ham in eighth place on 38 points, two places and seven points better of than they were last season.
Despite this, a poor run has seen West Ham win just three of their last 13 games which has brought pressure back upon Allardyce. They are still in competition for a Europa League place, however are slipping away and dropped valuable points when they threw a way a two goal lead at the home of rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, drawing 2-2.
If it could be said that West Ham's season is dipping, Crystal Palace's is doing the total opposite. A confusing start to the season that saw Neil Warnock replace Tony Pulis in the dugout led to a poor run of form that had Palace in the relegation zone around Christmas time. Club legend Alan Pardew was brought in from Newcastle United to replace the sacked warnock, and has shown signs of turning form around. Since joining in January, Pardew has produced impressive wins against the likes of Tottenham and Southampton, steering his side up to 13th place.
Winger Yannick Bolasie is sure to be a key man on Saturdy if the Eagles are to find a way past a stubborn West Ham defence. The 25-year-old has earned sparkling reviews for his form this season leading to transfer links with clubs such as Everton and Newcastle.
West Ham are without Morgan Amalfitano as the winger serves the second of his three-match ban, whilst new signing Nene could make his first team debut. Carlton Cole is unavailable after pulling up with a hamstring injury against Spurs, with Andy Carroll still out following surgery.
Crystal Palace are without Jerome Thomas and Jonathan Williams, with Lee Chung-yong, Marouane Chamakh, Mile Jedinak and Fraizer Campbell all facing late fitness tests. On the plus side, midfielder James McArthur is expected to be back after missing last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.