West Ham vs Leicester City: Line-ups
West Ham
Leicester City
Goals Will Be Flying In
#1
Only Manchester City, Manchester United and this weekend’s opponents Leicester have won more Premier League games than the Hammers so far this campaign, and Moyes has insisted that their top-four challenge is “not a fluke”.
#2
Heading into this weekend’s intriguing encounter, West Ham have the second-best home record in the Premier League this season, accumulating 28 points from 15 matches at the London Stadium. Meanwhile, Leicester have the second-best away record so far this term, claiming 34 points on the road. The Hammers know that they cannot afford many slip-ups if they wish to qualify for next season’s Champions League and defeat on Sunday could see them drop down as low as seventh if Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool were all to win this weekend.
#3
Enforced alterations to Leicester’s backline have exposed defensive vulnerabilities in recent weeks; the Foxes have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven league games and on Sunday face a Hammers outfit who have scored in 25 different Premier League matches this season, with only Man City finding the net in more. Leicester are, however, one of six away teams who are yet to lose a Premier League match at the London Stadium, with the Foxes unbeaten in four, winning and drawing two each.
#4
Brendan Rodgers will be keen to avoid a repeat of October’s encounter with the Hammers, who beat them 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. Securing three points this weekend would provide a massive boost in their quest to seal a Champions League place for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, when they won their first ever top-flight title.
#5
Goals are to be expected in Sunday’s fixture as only Man City have netted in more games than both West Ham United and Leicester so far this season. In addition, each of the last five games hosted by the Hammers against the Foxes have seen both teams score. A win for either side would be huge in their quest for the top four, but both clubs may have to settle for just a point in the capital.
