West Ham v Leicester: Preview, injuries, predicted Foxes line-up

How have the Hammers played?

This season has certainly been the strangest season since the suspended season. The tightly packed schedule has benefitted sides with a capacity to rotate, and those who are not in European competitions.

We have seen the demolition of Liverpool FC in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk, the inconsistency of Tottenham Hotspur, the fall of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and rise of West Ham United. So, for the East Midlands outfit to have not fallen out of the top four all season is an impressive feat to say the least.

West Ham at home are thoroughly mid-table in terms of the opportunities they are creating, and those they are expected to concede. Across their season, they have created 1.43 chances per match, accumulating an xG (expected goals) of 23.64 at home, actually scoring 26. On xG, they are eighth at home.

Defensively, the Hammers have conceded 1.23 goals a match on average, accumulating an xGA (expected goals against) of 18.88, only conceding 18. This makes them tenth at home defensively.

What this means is that David Moyes has constructed a solid system capable of grinding out wins or draws versus the top clubs, then releasing the hounds to play more positive football against mid-table and lower-table clubs.

From the wings to the midfield, every player has an important role to play in defending. They are all involved in making interceptions, pressures, and tackles, and this is very important to how they play. On the attack West Ham have been fine, though a little conservative at times.

Leicester City on the other hand are excellent away from home. In fact, as with their position in the table on points, the Foxes are third on both xG and xGA away from home. That is consistency!

The East Midlands outfit have created 1.27 chances per match, with an accumulated xG of 23.84, actually scoring 28. They have also conceded 1.13 goals per match on average, with an xGA of only 16.17, actually conceding 13.

Well, the analysis is simple. ‘Brendalball’ coupled with a passion to perform away from home has created a winning mentality and style around the Foxes squad. They are patient – the reason Cengiz Under hardly makes the squad – methodical, communicate well, and can penetrate defences from the wings, midfield, or with balls over the top for Jamie Vardy or the ‘seniorman’ Kels.

I doubt this will be a high scoring game when both teams are defensively good at home and away respectively. Expect a lot of long balls and a low block from West Ham, and excessively patient football from Leicester.