Expect Burnley to line up in their usual 4-4-2, a shape that's served them well in the past but can look rigid against teams that move the ball quickly. They'll try to make it a dogfight — second balls, set pieces, and direct play into the channels. But West Ham, under Nuno, are expected to set up in a 4-4-2 as well, and that's where it gets interesting. The midfield battle will be the key. Burnley's double pivot will be up against the likes of Kanté and Orford, and that's a mismatch on paper. Kanté's legs might not be what they were, but his reading of the game is still elite. He'll sit in front of the back four, break up play, and let the likes of Solomon and Bowen run at a Burnley defence that will be sitting deeper than they'd like.

The wide areas are where West Ham can hurt them. Bowen on the right, Solomon on the left — that's pace, trickery, and end product. Burnley's full-backs will be terrified of getting caught one-on-one. And if West Ham get a set piece, Kilman and Mavropanos are a real threat in the air. Burnley will try to keep it tight, but they'll have to come out at some point, and that's when the spaces open up. This is a game that could be decided by one moment of quality, and West Ham have more of those moments in their squad.