Preview: West Ham United Vs Leicester City

STRATFORD, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Pedro Obiang of West Ham United (C) attempts to tackle Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City (L) during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on March 18, 2017 in Stratford, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

As Leicester City face West Ham United, Thomas Alderman looks forward to what will be a hotly-contested clash between two teams which expect to be higher in the Premier League.

Predicted Line-up

As Claude Puel suggested, West Ham will be keen to gain their first win. They will fight, doing whatever they can to ensure three points are theirs. For this reason, the manager should select Shinji Okazaki to take the place of Marc Albrighton as the only change:

Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Mahrez, Iborra, Ndidi, Gray; Okazaki, Vardy.

Substitutes:

Hamer, Chilwell, Amartey, King, Albrighton, Slimani, Iheanacho.

The East-London club are without their dangerous striker Javier Hernandez, so Andy Carroll is expected to lead their line. Carroll, the tall heading specialist, has failed to score in 10 competitive appearances, mind you.

Andre Ayew and Marco Arnautovic are more recently fit target-men once again available for West Ham United.

Current form

Both teams have recently appointed new bosses. Each new man will be looking to stamp the performance with their particular mark, while naturally taking a vital win.

Leicester City will be keen to regain their winning ways; under Puel they’ve had one win, a draw and a loss. The Foxes have looked more steady and comfortable, not to mention direct with their attacking approach under the Frenchman.

As for West Ham, while the Hammers haven’t won in eight Premier League games, David Moyes has never lost in his three games at home to Leicester. The Londoners’ last two losses at home were 3-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion and 4-1 to Liverpool.

Recent History

West Ham United haven’t beaten Leicester City in the league for almost three years (December 2014). They’ve lost four, whilst winning one in that time.

The Foxes had won a miserly one in 28 while playing at the Hammers’ grounds until the last two games away, in which they won both. They have never won three in a row there.

Score prediction

Put crudely, three points for Leicester City against the struggling West Ham United seems more than realistic. 2-1.

Where to watch?

If you’re not attending and would like to watch the match – it’s live from 7pm on Sky Sports Main Event tonight (Friday, 24 November).