West Ham will again be without the injured Edson Alvarez when Graham Potter returns to his former club Brighton on Saturday.
The Hammers visit the Amex hoping to produce a better performance and result than last weekend, when they conceded a 93rd-minute equaliser to bottom-of-the-league Southampton in an eventual 1-1 draw.
Midfielder Alvarez was on the bench for the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool the week before, and then missed out for the Southampton game because of a back injury.
Speaking on Thursday in his press conference, Potter said: “Edson Alvarez is still out with a back injury. He is probably going to miss the game. Hopefully, [he is back] next week [against Tottenham].
“Long-term absentees will still be there. Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be back and should be available for the squad.”
Wan-Bissaka missed the Southampton draw with a toe injury but is expected back. Potter could name him on the bench rather than risking him in the starting line-up, with Vladimir Coufal able to deputise.
Striker Evan Ferguson is on loan from Brighton so cannot face his parent club.
Potter lined up with a back four against Saints but could return to his familiar 3-5-2 formation against Brighton.
It remains to be seen whether Aaron Cresswell will have recovered from muscle tightness.
West Ham possible XI (3-5-2): Areola; Todibo, Mavropanos, Kilman; Coufal, Paqueta, Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Scarles; Bowen, Fullkrug
Injured: Antonio, Summerville, Alvarez
Doubt: Cresswell
Unable to feature: Ferguson
Time and date: 3pm BST, Saturday April 26, 2025
Venue: The Amex
TV Channel: Not televised in the UK
