West Ham United captain Mark Noble (R) competes for the ball against West Brom's Saido Berahino. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending team West Ham United FC (15-6-14, 59 points) is trying to hold on to the final Europa League slot late in the 2015-2016 Premier League season. The team squares off with middling squad Swansea City AFC (11-15-10, 43 points) at the Upton Park this Saturday, May 7th.
West Ham currently holds the last Europa League qualifying berth at the sixth spot of the league table. They are only a point behind Manchester United, who also holds a Europa League spot, with three games left in their campaign this season.
The Hammers are also five points behind Manchester City's Champions League spot and could still go for it if they will be able to win at least two of their last three matches while City loses all of their remaining two games.
Manager Slaven Bilić's team is coming off a 3-0 demolition of West Bromwich Albion FC last Saturday at the Hawthorns for their second straight win, via SkySports.
Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté netted the opening goal of the match at the 34th minute while team captain Mark Noble scored a brace at the 45th+2 and 79th minutes to complete the Irons' three-goal haul. The win is West Ham's tenth consecutive unbeaten performance.
Meanwhile, Swansea City surprised another contending squad, Liverpool FC, with a 3-1 victory at their home ground of Liberty Stadium last Sunday, as per BBC Sport.
Ghanaian striker Andrew Ayew netted a brace at the 20th and 67th minutes to lead head coach Francesco Guidolin's boys in the said encounter. Midfielder Jack Cork scored one at the 33rd to give the Swans a two-point lead at halftime.
Reds forward Christian Benteke scored a consolation goal at the 65th before Australian teammate Brad Smith was sent off at the 76th off a second yellow card after fouling Swansea midfielder Wayne Routledge.
The win was Swansea's third in their last six matches which placed them at the no. 13 spot of the current league table, 11 points above the bottom three relegation area.
The predicted result is a 3-1 win for West Ham United.
West Ham United starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Adrian; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Lanzini, Kouyaté, Noble, Payet; Sakho, Carroll
Swansea City starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Fabianski; Rangel, Amat, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Britton; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Montero; Ayew
