Foxes of Leicester
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3 West Ham stars Leicester must stop in relegation scrap

By Will Kennedy

Youri Tielemans of Leicester City competes for the ball with Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on November 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Youri Tielemans of Leicester City competes for the ball with Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City at London Stadium on November 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /
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Michail Antonio during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at London Stadium on May 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Michail Antonio during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at London Stadium on May 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Michail Antonio

West Ham’s greatest goal-scorer in the Premier League era, Michail Antonio has once again led the line for his side this campaign. With 14 goals this season, no one has scored more than him in claret and blue.

Having only scored five goals in the Premier League in 2022/23, he has struggled at times, but has recently found the net against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and AZ Alkmaar, and is now closing out the season with form on his side.

Now 33, the Jamaican international has been in the capital since his move from Nottingham Forest in 2015/16, and there’s nothing the former Forest man would like more than scoring past the Foxes to send them down on Sunday.

For Antonio, this is probably his last season leading the line for the Hammers with Danny Ings starting the recent win over Leeds United and Gianluca Scamacca back available from injury come the start of the next campaign. Still, the pace and power that Antonio possesses means he is a useful asset coming off the bench; he could cause Leicester’s tiring defence real issues if he came on with 20 minutes to go.

Antonio does have favourable recent history against the Foxes: only four teams (Watford, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur, and Norwich) have proved to be more fruitful opponents for the striker, having scored five goals and claiming one assist against LCFC – including his brace last season in a record-breaking evening for him and the club.

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In recent years, the King Power has been a playground for the Hammers and Leicester have failed to overcome them at home since 2020. If they are to break that duck, they need to shut Antonio out – their Premier League status depends on it.