West Ham United will be looking to start this season on a high note after last year's almost calamitous campaign in the Premier League when they travel to the Vitality Stadium. Europa League - secured through winning the Europa Conference League - will certainly ease the blow of a 14th-place finish and six points above the drop zone last season considering they were challenging for a top six spot just two years ago.
The Irons go into this match as the slight favourites at 8/5 with Betfred while the Cherries are 13/8 to start the season brightly under new head coach Andoni Iraola and a draw is 12/5. Bournemouth have failed to score against the Hammers in their last three Premier League meetings losing each one after picking up four wins and three draws from their first nine meetings against them.
David Moyes recruited well with the Declan Rice money and have a like-for-like replacement in Edson Alvarez as well as the growing speculation that Harry Maguire, James Ward-Prowse and Scott McTominay all on the Irons shortlist, they could finish the transfer window strongly - even if it has taken longer than it should have. Many are tipping West Ham to finish mid-table in May but if they are able to bring in the recruits they are linked with and keep Manchester City-target Lucas Paqueta then we could see a much improved West Ham side.
Over at Bournemouth and there has been plenty to talk about for the south-coast club. The sacking of Gary O'Neil surprised many after he performed what some felt was the impossible task of keeping the Cherries up last season but the board decided Iraola was the person to send the club in the right direction. They have recruited well with Hamed Junior Traore, Milos Kerkez, Romain Faivre and Justin Kluivert the new faces as they look to promote a more high-risk, high-reward tactical strategy that the Spaniard is highly regarded for.
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