After a surprisingly good start to the season, very much unlike West Ham, Manuel Pellegrini’s side now have the opportunity to show what they’re all about in September.
Apart from the usual pasting against Manchester City, in which they managed to score four or more goals at the London Stadium for the fifth time in succession, West Ham have looked strong.
A reasonable point away at Brighton stopped our poor record against the Seagulls although we remain without a victory against them in the Premier League since their promotion in 2017.
But it was performances against Watford and Norwich that really have fans feeling good about this season.
A 3-1 win at Watford was followed by arguably one of West Ham’s best performances at the London Stadium in a dominant 2-0 victory over newly promoted Norwich City.
And if there was ever a time for Manuel Pellegrini to really signify how good his new-look West Ham team are, it would be in the next four games.
First up on Monday 16th September, West Ham travel to Aston Villa. Villa Park is a ground the Hammers haven’t won at since 2014 and have tried on two occasions since that victory.
The Villans are as unpredictable as any but have only managed one victory in the Premier League so far, which came against Everton.
With an infusion of over £100million worth of new talent, Dean Smith is hoping his players gel sooner rather than later, much like Manuel Pellegrini was hoping would happen when he oversaw that level of change last summer as well.
Next, West Ham are back at the London Stadium and face Manchester United. Last season the Hammers produced a brilliant display to beat the Red Devils 3-1, thanks to goals from Felipe Anderson, a Lindelof own goal and Marko Arnautovic.
But typically, United are a team anyone would struggle against and Pellegrini’s men would have to be at their best to get anything from the game.
After United, West Ham travel down to the South Coast to play Bournemouth.
In a game that will occur just three days after the third round Carabao Cup match against Oxford United, West Ham hope to beat the Cherries for the first time since 2016, the first Premier League match at the London Stadium.
And finally to conclude the month of September, West Ham welcome Crystal Palace, a side whom they’re unbeaten against since 2015.
That doesn’t take anything away from the trickiness of the match because the Eagles have also made a strong start to the season like West Ham.
So, how many points do you think the Hammers will amass from their next four Premier League games?
Let us know in the comments down below…
