Premier League opponent preview : West Ham - recent form, star players and more | OneFootball

Knowing West Ham's current Premier League status including their present form, crucial starters and their recent head-to-head standing against Southampton.

Throughout April, Southampton have met one of the finest crop of Premier League competitors. All of Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Aston Villa have made their case as future trophy candidates which indeed documents why Southampton fell short of points in front of them.

In comparison, this week is shaping to be a relaxed one as the awaiting rival is West Ham. Southampton fans remember losing a closely contested home tie against them but what they don't know is how West Ham has gone downhill ever since.

According to Transfermarkt stats, the Hammers have won only one more game than Southampton across all competitions, following that 1-0 evening.

West Ham are in a similar boat as Southampton

If we take only cup competitions into account, West Ham has won merely a fraction of Southampton's victorious fixtures. To be honest, no Saints fan would have dreamed of witnessing this statistical advantage unfold over any current Premier League outfit.

Hence, both sets of squads are sure to be desperate for this matchday's three points. Now, Southampton's lineup strengths are no strangers to the Saints and West Ham's roster wouldn't strike much fear among them either except a few names.

Notably, those crucial puzzle pieces for the Hammers are Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse himself. The 30-year-old will surpass two years of ending his storied Southampton journey but his legacy isn't diminishing anytime soon across English football.

Expectedly, Ward-Prowse will be relishing the prospect of sharing the pitch with Southampton one more time. As far as previous West Ham challenges are concerned, Southampton have generally fared well but emerging on top in key moments should be on Rusk's to-do objectives.