West Ham United players look dejected after their bitter loss to Watford. (Photo : Getty Images)
West Ham United (6-3-2, 20 points) was momentarily tripped with its first loss in six matches and will now clash with mercurial team Everton FC (4-3-4, 16 points) at the Boleyn Ground in East London on November 7th, Saturday for a notable 2015-2016 Premier League battle.
West Ham dropped a disappointing 0-2 decision to newly-promoted squad Watford at the Vicarage Road last Saturday as the Hornets' Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo scored a brace at the 39th and 48th minutes of the match, as per The Guardian.
The Irons tried to catch up, but they could not penetrate Watford's defense all throughout the game. Making matters worse was a straight red card for West Ham center back James Collins, who unnecessarily fouled Ighalo from behind mainly due to frustration, six minutes before full time.
It was the Hammers first loss in their last six outings, which still puts them comfortably at the sixth spot of the league table.
Meanwhile, Everton put the hammer down on lowly Sunderland, 6-2, at their home field of Goodison Park last Sunday courtesy of a hat trick from Ivorian striker Arouna Koné, via BBC Sport.
Spanish forward Gerard Deulofeu opened the scoring at the 19th minute before Koné added another one at the 31st. The Black Cats managed to equalize it five minutes into the second half with goals from Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher, but an own goal by Sebastián Coates turned the tide in favor of the Toffees from then on.
Slaven Bilić's squad will look to go back to its winning form in this match, but Everton will make a fight out of it.
The prediction is a close 2-1 victory for West Ham.
West Ham United starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Adrián; Tomkins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Jenkinson; Noble, Payet; Lanzini, Moses, Kouyaté; Carroll
Everton starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Howard; Funes Mori, Coleman, Oviedo, Stones; Barry, Koné; McCarthy, Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku
