Premier League 2018/19: West Ham United Team Preview

David Moyes is gone and Manuel Pellegrini is gearing up to shape the West Ham United team as per his vision. Pellegrini, as expected, is going to be looking to set up his team in a 4-3-3 formation. Pellegrini has always favoured an attack-first approach and will be looking to utilise the same approach at West Ham.

West Ham have brought in seven new players in the transfer market. The pick of the bunch are Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko who offer both goals and guile, something for which they were overly reliant on Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic last season. Signing Jack Wilshere on a free deal can also pay dividends if he manages to stay fit.

Till date, Pellegrini has used all of his new signings in the pre-season friendlies, trying to integrate them early on. The team have tried to adopt Pellegrini's tactics and play with a sense of adventure not seen at West Ham in a long while. The fans should be excited about this new avatar of the Hammers' side. Still, there are questions as to how West Ham will line up for the season. Here we look at the team which might go out to face Liverpool on 12th August.

1. Goalkeeper - Łukasz Fabiański

West Ham have signed Fabiański from the relegated Swansea to fix a problem position for them. Adrian has proven a little too error-prone for the Premier League level. Fabiański has proven himself at Swansea with consistent performances over the last few years and will be looking to keep up those performances in the upcoming season.

He made 38 appearances for Swansea last season, keeping 9 clean sheets for a relegated team. West Ham could possibly provide him with better support and Fabiański will be hoping to enhance his reputation further.

Center Backs - Winston Reid & Issa Diop

Winston Reid in action for West Ham

Winston Reid has been a permanent fixture of the West Ham defense in recent years. He has been with West Ham since 2010 and is one of the most experienced members of the squad. Reid will be looking to establish a lasting relationship with Diop, and guide him on his debut Premier League campaign.

Diop, who is excellent in the air and quick on the ground, was acquired from Toulouse for a princely £22M. He will be looking to hit the ground running in the Premier League. Pellegrini and West Ham fans will surely hope that he makes his mark in the Premier League.

Issa Diop appearing for West Ham during the pre-season

Full Backs - Aaron Cresswell and Ryan Fredericks

Aaron Cresswell has worked hard at West Ham to make the left-back slot his own. He will complement the attacking mentality of Pellegrini's teams and his left foot deliveries can be a crucial weapon from set-plays.

West Ham Left Back - Aaron Cresswell

Ryan Fredericks was signed on a free from Fulham in the current transfer window, and this piece of business will go a long way in helping West Ham solve one of their problem positions. Zabaleta was far from convincing last season. His pace and marauding runs will be crucial to West Ham's attack. Moreover, he is defensively very sound and his time in the championship means that the Premier League's physicality will not come as a surprise to him.

Midfield

Defensive Midfield - Mark Noble

Captain Hammer - Mark Noble

Mark Noble is the captain and the longest-serving member of the West Ham squad. On the pitch, his determination and fighting attitude help lift his teammates' performances.

Right Midfield - Felipe Anderson

The silky Brazilian is one of the most high profile signings of the current transfer window and for West Ham, he is certainly one that can help elevate their performances this season. His dribbling, pace and skills will provide West Ham quality in the final third of the pitch. His 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season speak for his ability.

Anderson in action for West Ham

Left Midfield - Manuel Lanzini

Over the last couple of seasons, Manuel Lanzini has been an important cog in the midfield machine at West Ham. He acts as the link between the defenders and the forward line, and Pellegrini will be looking at him to work similarly in a more withdrawn role. Last season, he worked well with Arnautović on the left-hand side and would look to take that partnership further. He knows the Premier League in and out, and with so many new-comers his experience will be vital for West Ham during the season.

Manuel Lanzini - West Ham's man in midfield

Forwards

Left Forward - Marko Arnautović

One of the most prolific forwards outside of the top 6, Arnautovic scored 11 goals while providing 6 assists in the league last season. His physicality and sharpness in front of goal were crucial for West Ham and helped them in avoiding relegation. He should be looking to reach the 20 goal mark this season, especially in the light of the new arrivals who are going to add quality in the final third.

Marko Arnautović - in full flight

Striker - Javier Hernández "Chicharito"

Hernandez had a mixed debut season for West Ham in 2017-18, making 28 appearances and scoring 8 goals. Moyes's defensive tactics did not help as well. But under Pellegrini, he might be looking to start afresh, his tireless running and pace can help West Ham to open up spaces for Arnautović and Anderson to move into. He will get more service from Yarmolenko and Anderson which should help him to increase his goal tally for the upcoming season.

Chicharito celebrating with Arnautović

Right Forward - Andriy Yarmolenko

Out of the new additions to the squad, Yarmolenko has the most to prove at West Ham. After enjoying success with Dynamo Kiev, his first season at Dortmund did not go as expected and he will be hoping to show his talent at the Premier League level. His pace and technical ability from the right-hand side will help West Ham stretch defenses and get balls into the area for Arnautović and Hernandez to attack.

Yarmolenko in action at a pre-season friendly

Substitutes

Andy Caroll - the human battering Ram

Goalkeepers

Adrian is a solid shot stopper and will push to make the No.1 jersey his own.

Defense

Arthur Masuaku made 27 league appearances last season as a left back/wing back, impressing with his defensive quality.

Angelo Ogbonna worked well last season but with newcomers, Diop and Balbuena, will have to fight to keep his place in the starting eleven.

Pablo Zabaleta has previously worked with Pellegrini and will help on the training ground as well as provide solid backup to Fredericks.

Pablo Zabaleta - West Ham Right Back

Midfield

Pedro Obiang will challenge Noble for the DM role, against better teams we might see them both deployed at the base of the midfield to provide more cover to the defense.

Jack Wilshere's ability to carry the ball long distances will prove a great asset for West Ham, if he manages to stay fit.

Jack Wilshere - a new start at West Ham?

Robert Snodgrass is solid back-up to Lanzini and Anderson and can play on the wings too.

Forwards

Michail Antonio had an injury-ravaged season in 2017-18 and would be looking to bounce back this time around and get back to his goal-scoring groove.

Lucas Perez signed from Arsenal this summer and is versatile enough to play across the front line. He has a tremendous work rate and scores at a relatively consistent rate.

Andy Carroll is and always will be West Ham's most efficient Plan B, his heading ability is unparalleled in the Premier League. When brought on as a substitute against tired defenders, this battering ram of a footballer wrecks havoc and scores a hat full of goals provided he manages to stay fit.