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Everton v West Ham: 2018-19 Premier League Matchday 5 Live Thread

Will the season now kicked off for the Hammers?

Everton FC v West Ham United - Premier League Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

The first international break is over, but will it be the time that West Ham’s positive results of the 2018-19 season start? The club hopes so, but will face a difficult test at Goodison Park against Everton.

Manuel Pellegrini is already under a little bit of pressure after four defeats to start a promising season, leaving the club so far as the only team in the Premier League who is literally pointless.

Instant improvement is needed from the Hammers, and Pellegrini’s side will have to show that against a talented team in Everton. Andriy Yarmolenko makes his first West Ham star after a positive week with Ukraine. Also making notable starts are Pablo Zabaleta for Ryan Fredericks (who isn’t even in the 18 at all), as well as Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang in the middle. Jack Wilshere is out with his past ankle problems resurfacing.

Marco Silva’s side see Lucas Digne get the left back nod again over club captain Leighton Baines, as there are no real surprises in the Everton lineup. But the energies for them are massive, with prominent players Richarlison, Michael Keane, Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, James McCarthy and Andre Gomes out.

Last time the Hammers were at Goodison Park, it was the Wayne Rooney show as Everton cruised to a 4-0 victory in November 2017. The Hammers won’t have to worry about Rooney now, but they will need to worry about their season if they can’t get their first point of the 2018-19 here. We shall see.

LINEUPS AND BENCH