West Ham United take on London rivals Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening with a chance to climb into the Premier League's top four.

The Hammers have been in fine form of late and are just three points outside the Champions League spots, while opponents Palace are three points back in 11th.

Match preview

Sustaining a top-four challenge throughout the campaign will be the task for David Moyes, but in the view of midfielder Declan Rice, West Ham should be aiming even higher.

Rice feels that even in the games West Ham have lost, such as against Arsenal and Manchester United, his side were hard done by and deserved at least a point.

Still, the Irons have won four of their last five matches and are in a very strong position heading into this first round of weekday Premier League matches.

The most recent of those victories came away to Leeds United on Friday evening, with Tomas Soucek and Angelo Ogbonna scoring after Mateusz Klich's early penalty.

Palace also picked up an impressive result last time out as they held league leaders Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Harry Kane continued his impressive form by catching out Vicente Guaita for the opener, but Jeffrey Schlupp equalised late on and Palace's keeper produced a number of top saves.

That well-earned draw came on the back of a 5-1 victory away to 10-man West Bromwich Albion, scoring as many goals in that one as they managed in their previous nine away outings.

The Eagles have won two of their last four away matches, the other being a 2-1 win at Fulham, and they are seeking successive away London derby wins for the first time in 23 years.

A victory on Wednesday would also make it three in a row against United, having done the double over them last term, though they have never previously achieved a hat-trick of wins in this fixture.

West Ham United Premier League form: LWWWLW

Crystal Palace Premier League form: LWLLWD

Team News

Despite the quick turnaround in matches, Moyes has no fresh injury problems to contend with for this visit of Palace.

Michail Antonio remains sidelined, while Arthur Masuaku is also out, but the hosts have plenty of options to fill in.

The likes of Manuel Lanzini, Ryan Fredericks, Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass will all be hopeful of returning to the lineup.

As for Palace, Roy Hodgson fielded an unchanged XI between the win against West Brom and draw with Tottenham.

The visitors may make a change or two in midweek to keep things fresh, with Jairo Riedewald and Andros Townsend - introduced from the bench last time out - contenders to come into the side.

Jordan Ayew has scored four Premier League goals against West Ham, including the winning goal in both games last season, and may come into Hodgson's thinking.

West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Haller

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Clyne, Kouyate, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Schlupp, Riedewald, McArthur, Townsend; Zaha, Benteke

We say: West Ham United 2-1 Crystal Palace

West Ham lost 3-1 to Man United last time out at the London Stadium, but that was their first home defeat in seven matches in all competitions, winning five of those.

Palace have a rather mixed record on their travels, beating Fulham and West Brom either side of defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley without scoring.

Ultimately, though, United have been the more consistent side so far this season and we can see them edging this midweek London derby.

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Video prediction

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