Starting XI | Füllkrug makes first Premier League start against Brighton & Hove Albion | West Ham United F.C.
Julen Lopetegui has revised his starting lineup for West Ham United's home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, making two adjustments. Niclas Füllkrug will be making his debut as a starter in the Premier League for the club.
The 31-year-old forward has made it into Lopetegui's main squad for the first time since he joined the club in August. He is stepping in for the suspended Carlos Soler, who won't be able to play at the London Stadium after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season during Monday's 1-1 tie against AFC Bournemouth.
In another change, Emerson makes his way back into our defense, taking up the left-back position, while Vladimír Coufal moves to the bench, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka shifts over to right-back. This marks Emerson's 98th appearance representing West Ham.
It seems that the Spanish coach is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that he has preferred since taking over last summer.
Łukasz Fabiański, who recently set a record as the fifth oldest player to play for our first team in the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home, will be the goalkeeper for the ninth consecutive Premier League game. He aims to secure his third clean sheet of the season, supported by a defensive lineup consisting of Wan-Bissaka, Dinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman, and Emerson.
Edson Álvarez is anticipated to play as the defensive midfielder, while Tomáš Souček and Lucas Paquetá will take more advanced positions on the field. Notably, Paquetá netted West Ham's goal during Monday's 1-1 match against AFC Bournemouth, successfully converting a penalty.
In an offensive formation supported by their home fans, Jarrod Bowen, who has been a consistent player all season, and Mohammed Kudus flank Füllkrug on either side.
Captain Bowen is set to celebrate his 300th league match, which includes 182 appearances in the Premier League and 117 in the EFL Championship. Additionally, his next league goal will mark the milestone of 100 goals in his career.
Füllkrug made a comeback after a three-month injury break by scoring in the 3-1 loss to Leicester City earlier this month. He will be looking to score again when facing the Seagulls.
On the sidelines, defender Jean-Clair Todibo has recovered from an injury he sustained in the match against Arsenal and is now ready to be part of the squad.
Sitting next to Todibo on the bench will be goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, defenders Coufal and Ollie Scarles—who played his first Premier League match at Bournemouth on Monday—midfielders Guido Rodríguez, Andy Irving, and Luis Guilherme, winger Crysencio Summerville, and forward Danny Ings.
**West Ham United Lineup:** Starting Players: Fabiański (GK), Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Álvarez, Souček, Kudus, Paquetá, Bowen ©, Füllkrug Substitutes: Areola (GK), Scarles, Coufal, Todibo, Irving, Rodríguez, Luis Guilherme, Summerville, Ings
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk (c), Estupiñán, Baleba, Gruda, Wieffer, Mitoma, Rutter, João Pedro. Substitutes: Steele (goalkeeper), Lamptey, Julio, Ayari, Minteh, O’Riley, Enciso, Adringa, Ferguson.
