Premier League Week 4: Friday Night Football Analysis & Predictions

Game week 4 kicks off this Friday night with Luton v West Ham.

Stadium: Kenilworth Road, Kick Off: 20:00 BST, Referee: Paul Tierney, Watch: Sky Sports (UK)

Luton v West Ham

A jubilant West Ham will be taking a short trip up the M1 to visit the Hatters in their opening home fixture of the 23/24 season. The Hammers are currently enjoying life following their Europa Conference triumph as they look to extend their current unbeaten start to the season. The Hammers opened their account in game week one as they took a trip to the Vitality Stadium where they played out a 1–1 draw that saw Jarrod Bowen level the tie in the last 10 minutes of the 90.

West Ham took the momentum into their second game of the season as they welcomed Chelsea to the London Stadium. The Hammers started on the front foot getting themselves ahead in the tie in the 7th minute from a Ward-Prowse free kick, earning himself his first assist in claret and blue. Despite Chelsea leveling the tie, a Michel Antonio goal and a Paqueta penalty sealed all three points for the East London club. Having taken 4 points from their first two games, the Irons then set off for the South coast as they headed to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton.

The Seagulls had also enjoyed a fine start to the 23/24 season, scoring eight goals in their opening two matches and conceding just two. While Brighton had the lions share of possession and shots, firing at the West Ham goal 25 times, they failed to make any of it count. West Ham raced into the fixture with the same exuberance they have had across the opening weeks and took the lead in the 19th minute. This time Ward-Prowse fired a rebound from his own shot into the Brighton net to make that his first West Ham goal and his second goal contribution in two games.

In contrast, Luton’s start to life in the top flight has been a bit of an uphill struggle. Of the first three games scheduled, Luton have only been able to play two; both heavy defeats to Brighton and Chelsea respectively. Conceding seven and scoring just one, which came courtesy of a Carlton Morris penalty on opening day. The Hatters are yet to play at Kenilworth Road due to works being completed on the stadium, which forced their opening home fixture against Burnley to be postponed. With West Ham currently in fine form it is difficult to see the Hatters collecting their first points of the season just yet. West Ham have scored as many goals as Luton have conceded, however, they have yet to keep a clean sheet. With that being said, Luton have been somewhat toothless across their first two games. They have averaged 10 shots across both fixtures with an average of 3.5 shots on target, none of which have been converted in open play. With Antonio, Ward-Prowse and Bowen all starting in fine form, it may be yet another defeat for Luton.

Key Stats

• West Ham have averaged 13.3 shots so far with an average of 5.3 shots on target
• West Ham have faced an average of 18.6 shots and faced and average of 6.3 shots on target
• West Ham have averaged 3.6 corners so far and conceded an average of 12 corners
• Jarrad Bowen and Michail Antonio are current joint leading scorers both with two, while James Ward-Prowse is leading the way for the Hammers assists with two.
• Both Paqueta and Emerson have been booked twice this season and Aguerd has picked up a red.
• West Ham have scored three goals in both of their last two matches with the score line ending 3–1 on both occasions
• West Ham have conceded exactly one goal in all of their first three matches and have kept one clean sheet in 20 away fixtures.
• Both teams are currently averaging 2.5 cards per game
• Both teams have been awarded a penalty already this season
• Luton have averaged 10 shots so far with an average of 3.5 shots on target
• Luton have faced an average of 23 shots an faced an average of 5.5 shots on target
• Luton have averaged 6 corners and conceded an average of 6 corners
• Issa Kabore, Jacob Brown and Mads Juel Anderson have all received bookings across Lutons first two games
• Luton have scored one goal across their first two premier league games, none from open play
• Luton have conceded seven goals averaging 3.5 goals against
• Carlton Morris is Luton’s leading scorer after converting a penalty against Brighton on opening day.

Predictions

Luton may feel some comfort and confidence making their first home appearance and they do enjoy scoring at Kenilworth Road. However, I think the fine start to West Ham’s season will continue and that James Ward-Prowse will be causing opposition further issues. I am therefore going for a West Ham win and both teams to score.

• West Ham to win
• James Ward-Prowse to score or assist
• Over 4.5 cards
• Over 8 corners
• Both teams to score

These predictions are not tips or advice. These are personal predictions for the outcome of the game for entertainment purposes only.