Newcastle United will face West Ham on Saturday and it should be a competitive mid-table clash.
Football will return to St. James’ Park on Saturday for the first time since November 10th. Newcastle United will host West Ham this weekend and the two mid-table sides will look to move closer to a spot among the top ten with three points.
Newcastle is enjoying their football at the moment with three consecutive victories against Watford, Bournemouth and Burnley. West Ham are struggling with consistency this season and they are one of the most unpredictable sides in the Premier League. This match should be close, but here are four players who could make a big difference on Saturday.
Newcastle: Federico Fernandez
Federico Fernandez is the true definition of reliable. He has been an anchor for Newcastle since being named a starter several weeks ago and his football intelligence has contributed to the Magpies’ resurgence. With his timely tackles, tight marking and impressive passing accuracy, the Argentine defender will frustrate West Ham’s offensive players just as he has frustrated offensive units all season. Look for Fernandez to confront West Ham’s best players this weekend.
West Ham: Marko Arnautovic
Marko Arnautovic needs no introduction as he is known as a strong and consistent goal scorer. Arnautovic is a key player for West Ham and he has already scored five goals and claimed one assist in 11 appearances for the Hammers.
The Austrian international striker scored against Newcastle last season and he is fully capable of emulating that success this weekend. Newcastle have a solid back-line, but stopping Arnautovic can be a daunting task.
Newcastle: Matt Ritchie
Matt Ritchie has not been all that impressive on the stat sheet, but he is an active player who plays with urgency and tries to create chances for others. His wing play will be crucial for Newcastle as he can deliver curling crosses with plenty of pace that catch opponents off guard. Yes, Kenedy can deliver crosses too, but the Brazilian also looks to score before passing. Ritchie, on the other hand, will look to feed Salomon Rondon with deep crosses in the penalty area all afternoon.
West Ham: Felipe Anderson
Last, but not least, we have Felipe Anderson. The Brazilian midfielder has been stellar for West Ham this season as his stats fall second-best only behind Arnautovic on the roster. In his 13 appearances this season, Anderson has scored four goals and claimed one assist. He is the Hammers’ most dynamic player and Newcastle must be aware of his location on the pitch at all times. Anderson can create chances for himself, but any unforced errors in defense will enable him to threaten Martin Dubravka’s goal with ease.