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Opponent watch: What Leicester City must expect as they face West Ham United

By Jack Mceachen

WATFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Watford and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on November 19, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Watford and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on November 19, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 25: Andy Carroll of West Ham United warms up prior to the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Wembley Stadium on October 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 25: Andy Carroll of West Ham United warms up prior to the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Wembley Stadium on October 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

Strengths

With Carroll in the team, West Ham’s strongest threat is going to come through aerial balls. Be that through crosses or set-pieces, Leicester City will have to be organised to counter them.

Countering this doesn’t come through just Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire, but the entire team have to help and especially when marking and screening the likes of Carroll, Kouyate and Winston Reid from corners.

West Ham are averaging more key passes through crosses than any other side this season (via Whoscored) and picking up the first ball will be important, but Moyes will have his side trained to go after the second ball and Leicester will need to be ready to win both duels.

Weaknesses

West Ham United lack creativity outside of Lanzini, but Leicester City will force to create one-versus-one situations with Zabaleta.

WATFORD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Watford and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on November 19, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Watford and West Ham United at Vicarage Road on November 19, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

The full-back is 32 now, and while he has been one of West Ham’s better performers this season, a lack of help from his winger means he can certainly be ‘got at’.

Expect the likes of Demarai Gray and Riyad Mahrez to overload on that side, especially early on to force the Argentine into a booking.