Nuno Espirito Santo's side are unchanged from the 1-1 draw against Manchester City last time out.
Winger Crysencio Summerville remains sidelined with a calf injury after the club had hoped he would return today. The Hammers have not won any of the six league games where they have been without him in 2025-26.
West Ham XI: Hermansen, Disasi, Castellanos, Diouf, Mavropanos, Fernandes, Pablo, Bowen, Todibo, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Spurs v Nottingham Forest".
Aston Villa v West Ham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:02 GMT 20 March
19:02 GMT 20 March
Top-four side Aston Villa take on bottom-three team West Ham on Sunday (14:15 GMT) but neither's recent form reflects their current league standing.
Villa's goal struggles
After ending 2025 with a run of 11 consecutive wins in all competitions, Aston Villa's fortunes have taken a new-year dive.
Villa have earned just nine points from their past 10 Premier League matches. In midweek they reached the quarter-finals of a major European competition for the third consecutive season, but this weekend they could lose a fourth league game in a row, something boss Umai Emery has never suffered in his entire managerial career.
The Villans were the joint-fifth highest scorers in the Premier League between last August and December with 30 goals, but no side has scored fewer than the 10 they have managed so far in 2026.
While Villa rank fifth-highest for shots and chances created during that time, they have the worst shot conversion rate. Their xG is only 14th best, which is indicative of the fact they're not creating high-quality chances.
Ollie Watkins (one goal in his last nine league games) and Emiliano Buendia (one in his last 15) are out of form while top scorer Morgan Rogers is being smothered by the opposition. The return of captain John McGinn from a two-month injury absence looks like it has come at just the right time.
In the run-up to Christmas when Villa were on their winning run, football experts were suggesting they were genuine title contenders., external But their turndown in domestic form has left them in a real battle to stay in the top four.
Hammers' cause for optimism
While Villa have faltered in the Premier League over the past couple of months, West Ham have found a new lease of life, and last weekend's draw against Manchester City meant they spent a night outside the relegation zone for the first time since the beginning of December.
It was a brief respite of fewer than 24 hours, but 15 points from their last nine league games (W4, D3, L2), is one more than they had earned in their first 21 this season (W3, D5, L13).
And they remain in the drop zone only on goal difference as they are level on points with Nottingham Forest, having been seven points from safety in January.
With the Hammers also still alive in the FA Cup, it means they have lost only two of their last 12 games in all competitions.
In the draw against City, West Ham scored with their only effort on goal, a header from Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Greek centre-back epitomised a fighting spirit that should help the Hammers' cause, making a game-high 10 clearances and four interceptions, as well as blocking an Erling Haaland shot full in the face.
That hard-earned point came in a match in which they were without the in-form Crysencio Summerville, who was nursing a calf injury. The winger, who has had seven goals and an assist across his last 13 games, is hoping to be fit for Sunday, another boost for West Ham, who haven't won any of their six league games without him in 2025-26.
Nuno on Summerville's injury, Afcon and the battle to avoid relegationpublished at 14:41 GMT 20 March
14:41 GMT 20 March
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 14:15 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Forward Crysencio Summerville will not recover from injury in time to make the game but "outside of him, everyone is available".
Nuno revealed that after the news broke that Senegal were stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title, he hugged El Hadji Malick Diouf and said "you are [still] champion".
On the decision: "What happens on the pitch then stays on the pitch. It is over. He [El Hadji Malick Diouf] is happy and deserves the medal."
Nuno said that West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen being called up by England is "deserved" and makes him "very, very happy".
On avoiding relegation: "I believe we are improving and players are stepping up. I focus on the game [rather than hitting a certain number of points]."
Tuchel names England squad for March friendliespublished at 10:41 GMT 20 March
10:41 GMT 20 March
England manager Thomas Tuchel has named his 35-man squad for the two friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).
There are 13 players involved who weren't in the last squad back in November, while there's a first senior call-up for Everton midfielder James Garner and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Which side has suffered most from Premier League injuries this season?published at 11:59 GMT 19 March
11:59 GMT 19 March
Image source, Getty Images
We are getting to the stage of the season where every Premier League team is managing injuries in their squad as the sheer volume and intensity of games begins to take its toll.
But who has been most affected by injuries across the campaign so far?
Ben Dinnery, from Premier Injuries Limited, has provided the data below, showing the number of domestic injuries each top-flight team has suffered, defined by a player missing at least one Premier League game.
The data has been taken from the opening weekend up to and including 18 March.
Despite this table listing domestic injuries, it is unsurprising that the top three of Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all competed in European competition, with the Gunners still fighting on four fronts and the Blues also coming off the back of a much-shortened pre-season following their Club World Cup victory.
Perhaps more surprisingly, however, is the fact Arsenal's 31 domestic injuries so far comfortably leads the way, illustrating the strength and depth available to Mikel Arteta to still have his side nine points clear at the top of the table.
The graphic below shows Tottenham lead the way for days missed by injured players, illustrating the issues faced by Thomas Frank, who had to cope with long-term absentees including Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.
Both West Ham and Brentford are in the bottom three for domestic injuries and days missed through those injuries, while Arsenal and Villa are in the top three for both.
Chelsea drop down the table when looking at days missed, showing they have predominately suffered from short absences spread throughout the squad.
It is worth pointing out that Newcastle's two longest absences this season - Emil Krafth (120 days) and Yoane Wissa (88 days), who had not yet even trained with his new side, resulted from injuries picked up on international duty and are not factored into the figures.
Forest to lose Premier League relegation battle? Fans have their say...published at 12:44 GMT 17 March
12:44 GMT 17 March
Image source, Getty Images
With Opta's supercomputer predictions suggesting it could be four teams fighting to avoid one relegation spot as we head into the final eight games of the season, we asked you who you think will be the one to go down (with Burnley and Wolves).
At the time of writing, Nottingham Forest - who Opta say have a 32% chance of finishing 18th - are the ones fans think are mostly likely to be in the Championship next season.
Hammers' 'gameplan worked perfectly' against Man Citypublished at 12:01 GMT 17 March
12:01 GMT 17 March
Holly Turbutt Fan contributor
Media caption,
West Ham are finally working out ways to get the most out of our squad, and it could save us just in time.
Against Manchester City it was the first time I can remember in so long when we've played a back three and it's actually worked well.
Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo and Axel Disasi were so well-organised and managed to limit Erling Haaland's chances - all the things we needed to do.
This is the first time I can remember us actually setting up more defensively and the tactics being spot on.
Mavropanos also managed to get a goal, so he is looking like a completely different player to the one we saw at the start of the season.
When you look at the stats, it wasn't an equal contest in numbers, but we expected this. We knew we were going to get fewer shots than City, but our gameplan worked perfectly.
We took our chances, we got a little bit lucky with Marc Guehi not hitting the target, we had a couple of great saves from Mads Hermansen - and we managed to come away with a point.
So, for the first time in so long, we've been able to adapt our tactics in a way that works against the specific opposition. Now, we can take this confidence into a huge game against Aston Villa before the international break - wanting those three points and ready to keep improving.
We managed to do this without Crysencio Summerville as well.
We escaped the relegation zone for about 18 hours and it felt great - so here's hoping we can climb back out and stay away, very far away from those relegation spots.
The race for Premier League survival - who will go down?published at 14:27 GMT 16 March
14:27 GMT 16 March
It is the business end of the season and the race to stay in the Premier League is getting more tense.
With Opta giving Burnley and Wolves just a 0.35% and 0.07% chance of survival respectively and Crystal Palace a 0.08% chance of going down, it looks like it is a fight between four teams to avoid the remaining relegation spot.
Just three points separate West Ham in 18th and Leeds in 15th, with only goal difference currently keeping the Hammers in the drop zone.
Opta's supercomputer has been running the scenarios and providing the percentage chance of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham finishing in 18th place.
At 6.36%, Leeds are currently predicted to have the best chance of staying in the top flight in their first season back, while bottom-of-the-form-table Tottenham - who are just one point ahead Forest and West Ham - have been given a 13.03% likelihood of being in that third relegation spot come the end of the campaign.
Things look a bit more worrying for Vitor Pereira's Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham with a 32.85% and 45% chance respectively.
As Spurs and Forest face each other in a crucial match this Sunday, the picture could yet look a whole lot different heading into the international break next week.
Do you agree with the supercomputer? Who do you think of those four teams is most likely to go down?
West Ham 1-1 Man City - the fans' verdictpublished at 10:48 GMT 16 March
10:48 GMT 16 March
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Man City.
Here are some of your comments:
West Ham fans
Tim: Two excellent home performances in a row! Everyone putting in an extra 10% effort and it's really working. Mavropanos has taken over the role of 'defence captain ' and has been excellent.
Sue: The first half hour was hard to watch. I thought we were going to get thrashed especially when City scored, but then we started to play more confidently and after we scored we were brilliant. What a good point we earned.
Dean: A resolute defensive display - from the reaction at the final whistle from both players and fans alike, you'd think we'd won. We're not safe yet but the team spirit was magnificent against City.
Joe: The team is consistently showing a fighting spirit, and that is all West Ham fans want. Mavropanos is finally good, and all the defence played their socks off. This team can beat the drop and send Spurs down, what a turnaround!
Man City fans
George: Like all our games, our defenders play as forwards and lack speed to get back for long balls. They are holding onto balls longer than they should instead of searching for players with openings. Foden is the one player that has that vision and he's on the bench for too long.
Brian: Man City were not good enough on the day, and both teams needed points from this match. But West Ham wanted those points more. A draw is a loss at this stage of the title race. An embarrassing watch for fans and a tough seven days for those dedicated fans. We have a live interest in two trophies and with these performances a fading hope of success. Key players have to do better.
Usama: Our so called title challenge has run its course, Pep Guardiola's time at City surely has as well. Next season most certainly would be a season too far for Pep. This tippy tappy nonsense possession football is tedious and extremely predictable. This club needs a new direction come summer and if the board had any sense they would see that too and part ways with Pep. For all he's done and achieved there comes a time for change.
West Ham analysis: Defiant defence key as Hammers have hopepublished at 23:33 GMT 14 March
23:33 GMT 14 March
Emma Smith BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
For the first time in many months, there is something approaching optimism around London Stadium.
West Ham are into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in a decade where they will host Leeds, out of the bottom three and buoyed by the possibility of rivals Tottenham dropping into the relegation places on Sunday should results go in their favour.
It is far from perfect - a 16th-minute protest, featuring red cards, by fans against the ownership of David Sullivan and Karren Brady, proved that.
But on the field they impressively roused themselves after falling behind, forcing a corner and converting from it with their only shot of the match.
West Ham's slow start, and lack of more attempts on goal, perhaps owed much to the absence of Crysencio Summerville, who has been sidelined with a calf injury.
The Dutch forward has seven goals in his past 13 games and Nuno Espirito Santo's side struggle in attack without him, having won none of their six league games this year when he hasn't played.
But they were resolute in defence, with an impressive showing too from left wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf as he curbed the threat of Antoine Semenyo on the right flank.
They dealt well with City's tactical switch-ups too, Nuno quickly introducing Soungoutou Magassa in place of forward Pablo to match the visitors' change to a three-man midfield.
At the end it was all hands to the pump, but the Hammers held out and have earned 15 points from their last nine games - survival form.
Their run-in is tough - they still have to visit Aston Villa, face Arsenal at home and fellow strugglers Leeds on the final day - but, for now, there is the unfamiliar feeling of happiness and hope around London Stadium.
West Ham 1-1 Man City: What Nuno saidpublished at 22:35 GMT 14 March
22:35 GMT 14 March
Media caption,
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the draw with Man City: "You can say [the defending was heroic], a lot of sacrifice, a lot of bodies on the line. It has to be this way.
"We defended very well, the midfield worked very hard and the front players also tried to cut lines to delay the game. Overall defensively - especially first half - we were really, really compact and didn't allow too many chances to City."
On having belief at 1-0 down: "It was good because I think it was only three minutes. So we didn't have too much time. The reaction of the boys was amazing, to achieve a goal and keep believing that we can get out of this situation."
On upturn in form: "The fans today suffered alongside the boys, knowing that it's hard to play but like you said, there is a turning point in terms of believing and also performance that makes us positive for the future."
On moving out of the bottom three: "It doesn't mean much. It means that we are achieving points game after game, which is important, but the table can change at any moment. What we did was a good job, so let's rest and move to the next one."
Did you know?
West Ham United now sit 17th in the Premier League table, the first time they will end a night outside the relegation zone since 2 December.
West Ham v Man City: Team newspublished at 19:02 GMT 14 March
19:02 GMT 14 March
Nuno Espirito Santo makes two changes to the West Ham side that started the win over Fulham in their last Premier League game.
Injured Crysencio Summerville misses out and Callum Wilson drops to the bench, with a third centre back - Konstantinos Mavropanos - and forward Pablo coming in.
It looks like a change of shape for the Hammers, from a 4-4-2 to five at the back.
West Ham XI: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf; Hernandes, Soucek; Pablo, Castellanos, Bowen
