West Ham United will be looking to bring a run of five successive Premier League defeats to an end when they host Swansea City in a crucial clash at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The Irons’ latest loss was a 3-0 reverse against Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night, and the pressure is increasing on manager Slaven Bilic in what has been a disappointing season full of poor performances and results.

Without a win in seven – their last victory came against Southampton at the start of February – the Hammers are now just five points above the relegation zone.

That side in 18th position is the Swans following a dramatic 3-1 defeat at home to Tottenham during the week, and Bilic will know that his team can’t afford to lose again when they face the Welsh outfit this weekend.

A number of Irons players will know that their showings haven’t been good enough in recent weeks, and their key men need to step up when Paul Clement’s men visit the capital.

Here are THREE West Ham players that need to be at their best if the Irons are to beat Swansea…

Jose Fonte

Following some disappointing defensive displays this season, Irons fans would have been reasonably happy when they signed Fonte from Southampton during the January transfer window.

The Portugal international was a real leader and key man in the Saints backline for a number of years, but his time with the Hammers so far has been nothing short of a disaster.

The 33-year-old has made nine appearances in all competitions for the club so far, and the team has conceded 21 times during that period with Fonte often looking shaky and off the pace.

He will know that he needs to put his body on the line and put in a top performance – as he often did for Southampton – when Swansea visit the London Stadium.

Michail Antonio

The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the Irons’ key players in recent seasons and with nine Premier League goals to his name this term, they need him to try and replicate that sort of form for the visit of Paul Clement’s men.

The England international came off at half-time during the defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday night because he was feeling unwell, and Slaven Bilic will hope that he has fully recovered in order to use his direct style and aerial threat to cause real problems for the Swansea backline on Saturday.

Andy Carroll

Like Antonio, the striker was substituted off in the defeat to Arsenal – because of a groin problem, rather than illness – and manager Slaven Bilic will be hopeful that he is fit enough to start at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Carroll has a fine record for the Irons against the Welsh outfit having scored five goals and provided three assists in just six Premier League appearances, and he will need to use his aerial threat, strength and hold-up play to give the Swans’ backline more problems this weekend.

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