Potter sticks with unchanged XI for Lille clash

Graham Potter keeps the same West Ham XI for the Pre-Season Cup clash with LOSC Lille at London Stadium.

Potter names unchanged team for visit of LOSC Lille

West Ham United have named the same starting XI that beat Bournemouth last weekend in Atlanta for the Pre-Season Cup match against LOSC Lille at the London Stadium. Alphonse Areola starts in goal, and the back five remain unchanged from the Bournemouth game. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf are set to operate as wing-backs, while the central defensive trio consists of Jean-Clair Todibo, Maximilian Kilman and Nayef Aguerd. Kilman and Aguerd wear the new squad numbers 3 and 5 respectively. Academy graduate Freddie Potts starts in midfield for the third pre-season match in a row.

With a week to go before the 2025/26 Premier League season begins at Sunderland, Potter may have given a strong hint about his preferred starting XI for the league opener. The continued choice to rely on Potts signals growing trust in the academy and a focus on building cohesion ahead of a demanding campaign.

Potter favors consistency over wholesale changes early in the pre-season, a move that can speed up chemistry among a relatively young squad. Keeping Areola in goal behind a familiar back line reduces risk and suggests a clear preference for stability at the back. The inclusion of Potts again, along with Wan-Bissaka and Diouf in wing-back roles, points to a plan that prioritizes balance between defense and attack while developing younger players in a high-pace environment. The approach may pay off if injuries strike, but it also tests whether the team has depth beyond the obvious starters as the fixtures pile up in August.

Highlights

The coming fixtures will reveal how this early cohesion translates when the competition intensifies.