West Ham vs Aston Villa LIVE: Julen Lopetegui begins reign as Hammers welcome Villans to London – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
West Ham will begin life under Julen Lopetegui this afternoon as they host Aston Villa in their Premier League season opener.
The Hammers replaced David Moyes with Lopetegui and he has used pre-season and the transfer window to put his stamp on the team.
4
The Spaniard will be hoping to improve on a ninth-placed finish last campaign and bring European football back to the London Stadium.
His first challenge is a tough one though, as his side come up against Villa who will be playing in the Champions League again following an incredible season.
Unai Emery has become a hero at the club already and there’s no doubt that he will want to continue on an upward trajectory.
West Ham vs Aston Villa: Big spenders
Lopetegui has been on a spending spree throughout his first transfer window at West Ham.
READ MORE ON PREMIER LEAGUE
By announcing the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Tuesday, the Hammers moved up to eight arrivals during the summer.
The right-back has followed Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Guido Rodriguez through the door.
On top of those signings, Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme and former Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham have also joined.
It means West Ham have spent in excess of £120million since Lopetegui’s appointment, giving him all the tools to succeed this season.
Most read in Football
Adding that talent to the already impressive Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta should make the Hammers contenders for Europe again.
But it also piles the pressure on their new boss to deliver what is now expected of them.
4
- West Ham have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Aston Villa (W6 D5), a 4-1 loss at Villa Park last season.
- Aston Villa are winless in their last nine Premier League away games against West Ham (D5 L4), since a 2-1 victory at Upton Park in April 2011.
West Ham vs Aston Villa: Teams
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Summerville, Ward-Prowse, Fullkrug, Ings, Todibo, Wan-Bissaka, Irving
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Tielemans, Onana, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins
Subs: Carlos, Barkley, Duran, Buendia, Philogene, Gauci, Nedelijkovic, Maatsen, Ramsey
4
The BIGGEST questions for every Premier League team ahead of the new Premier League season
- Ollie Watkins is Aston Villa’s highest-ever Premier League goalscorer in games played in London, with 13 goals in the capital so far. He has 59 overall in the competition, behind only Gabriel Abgonlahor (74) and Dwight Yorke (60) for the Villans.
- West Ham’s new signing Crysencio Summerville was involved in 28 Championship goals last season for Leeds United (19 goals, 9 assists excluding play-offs). Only Southampton’s Adam Armstrong (34) and Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics (31) were involved in more.
West Ham vs Aston Villa: What has been said?
After leaving Manchester United and joining West Ham this week, Wan-Bissaka has spoken of his delight at returning to London.
“It was a no-brainer for me to join West Ham. I’m excited and happy to be here,” he said.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London, and I’m excited for what’s coming.
“I was born here, so I know the ins and outs of London, which plays a big part in my life, so to be back playing in this city means a lot to me.
“I’m happy to be here, am grateful for the warm welcome, and I am excited to be playing for the Club and will give it my all.
“I can’t wait to get on the pitch, get to know the players, and push on from there. I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a group that has got each others' backs through thick and thin.
“So being part of that and having that insurance helps a lot when you are surrounded by a good squad.
4
- Aston Villa have lost their opening Premier League match in each of the last three seasons, conceding 10 goals in these games. They also lost the last time they faced West Ham in their first game, going down 1-0 at Upton Park in 2012-13.
- West Ham have won their opening Premier League match in just one of the last eight seasons (D1 L6), beating Newcastle 4-2 in 2021-22. Indeed, the Hammers have lost their opening game in the Premier League more often than any other side (15).
West Ham vs Aston Villa: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, August 18.
Kick-off at the London Stadium is scheduled for 5:30pm.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
talkSPORT and marvelbet369.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest.
Read More on talkSPORT
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM
Topics