Leicester City face a tough test of their fading European qualification credentials at home to West Ham at King Power Stadium.
If Aston Villa lose at Newcastle earlier on Sunday afternoon, victory would see Leicester climb to 10th in the table.
West Ham will stay fourth no matter what but a win would put the Hammers three points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United.
Team News
Leicester have no fresh injury concerns to report as Ricardo Pereira, Ayoze Perez and several others all look for a place in the starting line-up, having been rested in Thursday’s loss at Liverpool.
Ryan Bertrand (knee), Wesley Fofana (leg), Jonny Evans, Timothy Castagne and Jamie Vardy (all thigh) remain ruled out.
West Ham will have Kurt Zouma available for selection despite ongoing controversy over a video of him committing animal cruelty.
Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku are both ruled out with knee injuries.
Stat Attack
- Leicester have won two of their last five meetings against West Ham (W2, L3).
- West Ham have won two of their last four visits to Leicester (W2, D1, L1).
- West Ham’s Michail Antonio has scored three goals in his last two appearances against Leicester.
- Coming into this matchweek, Leicester and West Ham have collected the least bookings this season with the Foxes collecting 26 bookings compared to the Hammers’ 27 yellow cards.
- Only one of Leicester’s 34 league goals this season were scored from a header.
Prediction
After their disastrous FA Cup exit last weekend, Leicester will be pleased by their improved performance at Liverpool because they certainly mounted a proper fight, despite being outclassed 2-0 in the end which they now need to build on.
West Ham meanwhile were frustrated by Watford but they showed the intelligence to patiently play their attacks with excellent pressing, which clinically paid off despite often having to backtrack quickly which will be key here given Leicester’s pace on the attack.
Tactics therefore feel likely to be important to the outcome of this match in my opinion but if West Ham can again bide their time with patient play and defend well, they really should have enough for the win.
Prediction: Leicester 1-2 West Ham
Result: Leicester 2-2 West Ham
Leave a Reply