West Ham United are back at the London Stadium on Monday, October 20, hoping to finally collect their first Premier League home points of the season when they face Brentford. It’s been a rough start for the Hammers, who have yet to find any rhythm in front of their fans.
New manager Nuno Espírito Santo will take charge of his first league game at home, and there’s a sense that this one could shape how quickly things turn around under him. As SoftFootball reported, Nuno began his West Ham reign with a gritty draw against Everton, but this time, the fans will expect more than just effort—they need a win.
Brentford arrive knowing their away form has been a problem. Keith Andrews’ side have looked decent at home but haven’t managed to turn that energy into results on the road. Their biggest frustration is that they’ve taken early leads in two of their three away defeats but still ended up with nothing.
They’re a side that can score, though, and SoftFootball recently noted Caoimhin Kelleher’s brilliant penalty save against Cristiano Ronaldo, showing they’ve got players capable of stepping up in big moments.
The head-to-head record doesn’t make pleasant reading for West Ham. Brentford have won six of the eight Premier League meetings between these sides and three of their four trips to this ground. West Ham, on the other hand, are staring at an unwanted record—they’ve never lost four straight home matches to open a top-flight season, and they’ll be desperate to avoid that.
Team News
For West Ham, Lucas Paquetá is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance, and his creativity could be key. Tomáš Souček returns from suspension and might replace Niclas Füllkrug, who’s struggling with a muscle issue. Gustavo Nunes, George Earthy, and Antoni Milambo remain out, while Luis Guilherme and Jean-Clair Todibo face late fitness checks.
Brentford have injury problems too. Aaron Hickey, Reiss Nelson, and Rico Henry are all unavailable. Mark Flekken and Josh Dasilva are doubts, so Kevin Schade — who scored the winner in this fixture last season — could once again be the danger man in attack.
Possible Lineups
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf; Fernandes, Magassa; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Wilson.
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Hickey; Henderson, Yarmolyuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
West Ham shared on their official X account a photo of their players in action during a training session, captioned “Preparing for Monday”.
SoftFootball’s Prediction
It’s hard to see either side running away with this one, but West Ham’s need for points might just tip the balance. The home crowd will demand a response, and Bowen’s pace on the flank could make the difference. Brentford’s tendency to lose control late on may cost them again.
Prediction: West Ham 2–1 Brentford
