2019-20 Premier League: Week 20 – West Ham vs Leicester

Leicester City look to avoid three defeats in seven days as they visit West Ham United at the London Stadium.

West Ham can move away from the relegation zone with a win whilst Leicester need victory if they’re to re-establish their title hopes. 

 

Team news

Embed from Getty Images

Ryan Fredericks could return for West Ham after missing their Boxing Day defeat at Crystal Palace through suspension. 

Goalkeepers, David Martin and Lukasz Fabianski are also set to return from respective muscle and hip injuries. 

Aaron Cresswell meanwhile is suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Palace. 

Winston Reid (fitness), Jack Wilshire (groin) and Andriy Yarmolenko (hamstring) are ruled out. 

Leicester have no fresh injury concerns to report from their Boxing Day defeat against Liverpool, as Matty James remains a long-term absentee with a calf injury. 

 

Stat Attack

• West Ham are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Leicester (W1, D3).
• Both teams have scored in their last four clashes in East London, of which the Hammers won none (D2, L2).
• Three of six goals scored in this fixture at the London Stadium have come in the first-half.
• Jamie Vardy has scored three headed goals in 19 league appearances for Leicester this season, compared to three in 34 appearances last season.
• Angelo Ogbonna has made 33 headed clearances for West Ham this season, more than any other Hammer player. 

 

Prediction

West Ham will be up for this game because they were unlucky to not snatch a draw at Palace on Boxing Day, despite playing some good football at times. 

Leicester meanwhile need to win here because they were lethargic against Liverpool, despite creating plenty of good chances that they failed to put away, which suggests that they are starting to slump at the worst possible time of the season. 

I therefore am expecting the Foxes to go to East London and produce a reaction but West Ham are good enough to stand up and take a point from this game. 

Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Leicester City

Result: West Ham 1-2 Leicester City