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Manuel Pellegrini drops Declan Rice, Ryan Fredericks and Michail Antonio from West Ham squad for Bournemouth clash

Rice was taken off at half-time in West Ham's defeat to Liverpool: West Ham United via Getty Images
Rice was taken off at half-time in West Ham's defeat to Liverpool: West Ham United via Getty Images

Declan Rice, Ryan Fredericks and Michail Antonio have all been dropped from the West Ham squad for Manuel Pellegrini’s first game at the London Stadium.

All three started for the Hammers in their opening day 4-0 defeat at Anfield, with Rice being hauled off after just 45 minutes in midfield.

Neither he, Antonio or Fredericks, who arrived on a free transfer from Fulham as the promising first of nine new arrivals this summer, have any injury concerns and do not even feature on the bench against Bournemouth.

Instead, Pellegrini has opted to change things up and play a 4-4-2 against the Cherries with Marko Arnautovic alongside Javier Hernandez, while Robert Snodgrass is handed a chance on the right of a four, alongside captain Mark Noble, Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson.

Today’s visitors, without former West Ham man Junior Stanislas who is injured, picked up three points in their Premier League opener, a 2-0 win over promoted Cardiff at Dean Court.