Preview: West Ham United vs. Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

Brentford will endeavour to pick up another positive result in the Premier League when they travel to West Ham United for a London derby on Sunday.

David Moyes's men enter the contest on the back of a 2-0 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna, while the Bees held Liverpool to a memorable 3-3 draw on home soil.

Match preview

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West Ham have displayed a few signs of European fatigue recently, but a rotated side did the business against Rapid Vienna in midweek with goals from Declan Rice and Said Benrahma either side of half time to maintain their perfect start to Europa League proceedings.

The Hammers capped off a stellar eight days in perfect fashion on home soil after victory over Manchester United in the EFL Cup and a last-gasp 2-1 success over Leeds United in the Premier League, where Michail Antonio was unsurprisingly his side's saviour in the dying moments.

That 2-1 triumph at Elland Road ended a run of three Premier League games without a win for West Ham, who remain with the European-chasing pack as they sit seventh in the table with a tally of 13 goals scored - the joint second-highest in the division behind Liverpool.

Moyes's side therefore welcome Brentford to the London Stadium on a three-game winning streak in all competitions and determined to sign off with a home win before the international break, and their tally of 26 points at home since the turn of the year can only be bettered by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Hammers have already chalked up nine goals from their four games at the London Stadium so far this season and have only failed to score in two of their last 21 home league matches, but they can take nothing for granted against an inspired Brentford side.

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Brentford may have got the better of an under-performing Arsenal on the opening day of the new season, but not many could have expected them to replicate such a remarkable performance against a rampant Liverpool outfit, even with the raucous home crowd giving it their all for 90 minutes.

However, Ethan Pinnock, Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa all made the net ripple to prevent Liverpool from travelling back to Merseyside with all three points in the bag, as the Brentford faithful understandably celebrated that 3-3 draw like a win following a pulsating evening.

With only one defeat from their opening six games in the Premier League, the Bees remain in the top half of the rankings and continue to prove their worth as a top-flight side, while also conceding a mere five goals in that time.

The challenges come thick and fast for Brentford after the international break, though, as Chelsea and Leicester City lie in wait for the Bees before the end of October, but they are yet to lose on the road this term and have conceded just one goal in their three away fixtures.

It has been over 28 years since Brentford and West Ham last locked horns in any competition - with the Hammers winning a Division One encounter 4-0 back in April 1993 - but the two capital outfits have come a long way since then.

Team News

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West Ham lost right-back Vladimir Coufal to a groin problem before the win over Rapid Vienna, and Moyes is already short on that side with Ryan Fredericks out with an issue in the same area.

Ben Johnson was given the nod for the Europa League win and could be called upon to deputise once more, with Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Tomas Soucek all returning to the side.

Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals are also set to displace Andriy Yarmolenko and Nikola Vlasic in the final third, while Antonio's eight goal contributions (five strikes, three assists) is the most in the Premier League so far this season.

Brentford defender Pinnock was forced off injured in the first half against Liverpool after netting the opener on the day, so Zanka may be called upon to deputise in defence alongside Kristoffer Ajer and Pontus Jansson.

Mads Sorensen and Josh Dasilva remain absent for the visitors, who should otherwise keep changes to a minimum after that memorable performance against Liverpool.

Wissa will certainly hope to come into contention for a start after his heroics off the bench in that game, but Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney should continue in a two-man strikeforce for the time being.

West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Zanka, Ajer, Jansson; Canos, Janelt, Onyeka, Norgaard, Henry; Toney, Mbeumo

We say: West Ham United 2-1 Brentford

Goals should be on the menu between two rather potent attacks in this London derby, where Brentford will aim to take advantage of their hosts' Europa League fatigue.

The Bees' fighting spirit should come to the fore when under the cosh against a West Ham side blessed with quality in all areas of the pitch, but we think they will just fall short against one of the Premier League's top-performing sides at home.