Ipswich Town will aim to snap their seven-match winless run when they host West Ham United in their final game of the season. While it’s been a disappointing campaign for the Hammers, they’ve secured Premier League survival and will look to sign off with a positive result.
The home team are 19th on the table with just 22 points in their 37 outings. They have only secured four wins all season long and have already been relegated to the second division.
Having failed to win any of their last seven league games, there is little hope that Ipswich can take down West Ham despite their recent struggles.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 15th on the table with 40 points in their 37 outings. It has been a very disappointing season for them as they have only managed 10 wins so far.
West Ham have won just one out of their last ten outings in the league and Graham Potter would ideally want them to finish with a win. Since they are going up against one of the relegated outfits, they will be hoping to claim all three points here. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
While Conor Townsend is closing in on a return, he is unlikely to be risked in this fixture. Meanwhile, Sammie Szmodics is expected to be back in the squad after being out with an ankle problem since February.
The home team are expected to be without the services of Arijanet Muric, Wes Burns, Kalvin Phillips, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Jaden Philogene.
Kieran McKenna will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Alex Palmer will be in goal. Axel Tuanzebe and Leif Davis will be the full-backs, while Dara O’Shea should partner Jacob Greaves in central defence.
In the centre of the park, Samy Morsy will start alongside Jack Taylor. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure West Ham midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Omari Hutchinson and Harry Clarke will feature on the flanks providing much-needed width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Julio Enciso will take up the number ten role. George Hirst might once again get an opportunity to start with Liam Delap playing a part off the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Taylor; Hutchinson, Enciso, Clarke; Hirst
Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio remain unavailable for the visitors but apart from the duo, there are no fresh injury concerns for David Moyes’s team.
West Ham will stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Alphonse Areola will be in goal. Aaron Cresswell, Max Kilman, and Jean-Clair Todibo will feature as the central defenders.
Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are expected to be the wing-backs for the away team. Meanwhile, Edson Álvarez could partner Carlos Soler in central midfield. The duo will look to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus will be the two creative midfielders behind Niclas Füllkrug, who is expected to lead the line in this fixture.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell; Coufal, Alvarez, Soler, Wan-Bissaka; Kudus, Bowen; Fullkrug
The 24-year-old has been one of their mainstays since joining them back in 2023. While he had an impressive debut campaign, things haven’t gone according to plan for him this season. He has been involved in a total of 31 league games but has only managed to contribute towards seven goals (4 goals, 3 assists).
The team’s overall form has affected him to a great extent and he will be eager to finish the season on a high with a top-notch performance. Ipswich don’t have the best defensive record and Kudus can certainly make the most out of the opportunity.
West Ham United might have had a disappointing campaign overall, but they head into the final fixture with an opportunity to end the season on a high. While their form has been patchy of late, they will fancy their chances against an already-relegated Ipswich outfit who have lost all their home league games in 2025.
Despite the Hammers’ inconsistencies, they do possess the quality needed to break down Ipswich’s shaky backline. The Hammers have historically enjoyed facing Ipswich in the top flight and given the gulf in experience and individual quality, Potter’s men should be able to secure all three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the away team.
