Prediction and odds for the game: West Ham (11/10) v Newcastle (12/5)
We are backing Callum Wilson to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 7/4
When: Saturday, 12th September 2020, Kick-off 20:00
Where: The London Stadium
On Saturday night, West Ham host Newcastle at the London Stadium, as both teams look to kick-off the new Premier League campaign positively.
West Ham
The Hammers finished last season with a four-match undefeated run in the English top-flight. The positive late-season run saw David Moyes team finished five points above the relegation zone. West Ham may have ended the last campaign in a positive manner, but their record of three win in their final ten Premier League matches illustrated why there was such fear of relegation for much of the season.
Moyes is considered a defensive-minded boss, yet only four teams conceded more goals than the Hammers last season. The four teams with worse defensive records were unsurprising the ones that ended the season directly below the home side in the table.
The current transfer window has been a frustrating one for West Ham, who have yet to bring in any fresh faces into their squad. The Hammers also allowed highly-rated young attacker Grady Diangana leave for West Brom, which to the very public annoyance of club captain Mark Noble. The club stalwart voiced his disgust at the player’s sale on social media.
Newcastle
The Magpies enjoyed a relatively steady campaign in the English top-flight last season, finishing 13th place in the table under local lad Steve Bruce. The team from the north east ended season 2019/20 in poor form, though, as they failed to win any of their last six league matches, suffering four defeats in the process. A leaky defence played a big part in that late-season poor run, as they managed to concede at least twice in five of their last six league games.
The visitors also managed to claim just two wins from their final 11 top-flight matches on their travels, including picking up just one point from their final three away games in the Premier League. Their late-season away games were relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in three of their final four matches.
Newcastle have added some proven Premier League performers to their squad in the shape of striker Callum Wilson and winger Ryan Fraser, who both previous plied their trade at Bournemouth. Their latest signing is left-back Jamaal Lewis, who has arrived from Norwich for a fee in the region of £15million.
Conclusion
This game would usually be a flip of the coin between two teams that finished around the same area of the table last season. However, the atmosphere surrounding the home team is not the greatest at the moment and that could have a big effect on this game, even without spectators.
We are taking a punt on the away win, as Newcastle spirits seem to be high after what seems to have been a solid window for the team from the north east. We are also backing Callum Wilson to be an anytime scorer, as West Ham are one of the strikers favourite opponents. He will fancy his chances of a debut goal in this clash.
Verdict: We are backing the away win at odds of 12/5 and/or Callum Wilson to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 7/4. (All odds are taken from Bet365)
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Will either of these two teams make a winning start to the new Premier League season?
