Welcome to West Ham United versus Newcastle United at Upton Park! It's fifth against sixth in the Premier League, Alan Pardew and Sam Allardyce against their former sides and so much more...

No booking for him this time though.

Janmaat ploughs into Jarvis just inside the West Ham half. The Dutchman is only one booking away from a suspension.

Pardew has only lost to West Ham once in seven games against his former side. He looks confident on the sidelines so far today.

Newcastle are pressing West Ham very well so far. There have been a couple of fairly rushed long-balls from the home side already.

Carroll flicks the ball out to Jarvis, who then finds Downing in a central position. The in-form midfielder fires a low shot from 25 yards straight at Elliot who smothers the ball well.

Very high-energy start to this game. Both sides chasing after eachother like a Black Friday bargain.

Sissoko drags a dangerous cross into the box from wide on the right. There is nobody in there to meet it, though, and West Ham get it away.

Perez seemed a speculative signing by Newcastle during the summer at just under two million pounds, but he is already looking comfortable in the Premier League.

Close for Newcastle! Perez is fed by Gouffran from the right-hand side of the box and the Spaniard turns very sharply before firing just wide of Adrian's goal.

The game is underway!

Carroll, who was sporting a top-knot long, long before it was fashionable scored his first ever goal for Newcastle against West Ham. Will he deliver against his old side today?

Mark Noble, making a record-breaking 205th Premier League appearance for the Hammers, will captain the side.

The bubbles are blowing at Upton Park as the players come out onto the pitch. Plenty of reasons for optimism for both sides and absolutely no reason why this shouldn't be an excellent game. Let's hope they deliver.

So can Newcastle make it seven wins in a row? Their defence has been the key to a remarkable rise up the league, with Dummett, Williamson, Janmaat and Taylor providing a solid base which has allowed the forward players to prosper.

One worry for West Ham are the injuries to some of their best players so far this season. Alex Song, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho all settled into life at Upton Park brilliantly, but all are now unavailable and will be missed by the Hammers.

It's a bit of a surprise for West Ham fans that Zarate does not start today after scoring against Everton last week. Jarvis to set-up a Carroll goal? Possibly.

If you believed all the speculation, both Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew would have lost their jobs by now - but here they both are, enjoying excellent starts to the new season. West Ham's success has been founded on an added attacking threat, while Newcastle have kept four clean sheets in their last five games.

Former Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot gets a rare start for Newcastle with Dutch international Tim Krul ruled out after a training ground injury. It's otherwise an unchanged side, and why shouldn't it be? The Magpies have won their last six in all competitions and could move into the top four today with a win.

It's two changes for the Hammers from the side which lost 2-1 at Everton last weekend, with Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan replaced by Matt Jarvis and Cheikhou Kouyate. The plan looks an obvious one, with Stewart Downing and Jarvis supplying Carroll with crosses from the wings.

Injury-prone West Ham striker Andy Carroll starts today against his former side and home town club. Hammers fan Russell Brand has a clear message for the striker...

WEST HAM: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Carroll... SUBS: Nolan, Zarate, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Demel, Jaaskelainen, Cole.

/// NEWCASTLE UNITED: Elliot, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran, Ameobi... SUBS: Anita, Cisse, Cabella, Taylor, Riviere, Alnwick, Armstrong.