John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

With exactly half the season having now been played, Bournemouth are in the bottom three and West Ham one place above the relegation zone coming into this Boxing Day fixture.

Bournemouth, without a win now in eight in all competitions, weren't expected to get anything from their trip to runaway leaders Manchester City, and so it proved.

It's likely to be a tense afternoon, ahead of an anxious second half of the season for both clubs.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC Football expert

"Neither side are great defensively, so I am going to go for a draw."

Prediction: 1-1

Lawro's full predictions v The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins

West Ham have shown sporadic signs of improvement under David Moyes, but their 3-2 defeat by Newcastle at home on 23 December leaves them just one point and one place above the Cherries at kick-off today.

Image source, Reuters

Cherries boss Eddie Howe has a lot to ponder; they start today in the bottom three, and if they don't win they will equal their worst run of eight without victory in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

What do you make of the team selections? How are you feeling about the prospects for either side today, and looking into the second half of the season?

As ever, get in touch using #bbcfootball or text to 81111 (UK only) - and please include your name if texting otherwise we can't use it.

Image source, BBC Sport

Captain Simon Francis, Lewis Cook and Joshua King are the three changes for Bournemouth, with hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively keeping Junior Stanislas and Andrew Surman out, while Jack Simpson makes way following his Premier League debut at Man City on Saturday.

Bournemouth XI: Begovic, A Smith, S Cook, Francis, Ake, Gosling, L Cook, Fraser, Ibe, King, Wilson.

Image source, BBC Sport

For West Ham, Manuel Lanzini is back from his two-game ban, and James Collins also returns for West Ham - Winston Reid and Michail Antonio are the ones to sit this one out.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Ogbonna, Collins, Cresswell, Masuaku, Kouyate, Obiang, Zabaleta, Lanzini, Ayew, Arnautovic.

Good afternoon, and compliments of the season to you! Without any further ado, let's take a look at the teams for today.

Image source, Getty Images