In what is their biggest game of their season, Leicester City must beat West Ham United on Sunday if they have any hopes of Premier League survival. Abject displays against the likes of Fulham and Bournemouth have left the Foxes reliant on others in their final game of the 2022/23 campaign.
Needing a win against Newcastle on Monday to put their fate in their own hands, Leicester came close to snatching an upset in added time, but ultimately left with an admirable point in their 0-0 draw against the Magpies. Whilst some called Dean Smith’s ultra-defensive lineup negative, it was LCFC’s first clean sheet since January and will install much-needed confidence in the back-line.
Against West Ham though, it’s do or die. Not only do the Foxes need to win, they need to hope that Everton slip up against Bournemouth in order to scrape to survival. If Everton win, regardless of events at the King Power, Leicester will be playing Championship football next season, nine years after winning the division in 2014.
Whilst fans are filled with nerves, the players must focus on winning the game; they can’t allow themselves to be distracted by anything else. Having a poor record against the Hammers of late, they’ll need to stop these three players if the Foxes are to win the game.
Leicester City cannot allow Declan Rice to dictate
West Ham’s best player for the last four years, their academy graduate is warming up for what is surely his penultimate game for the club. The midfielder has, once again, been the key to how David Moyes’ side plays, recently winning the Hammer of the Year for the third time in four seasons.
Capable of the spectacular, Rice finds equal joy in defence and attack, but can be deadly at set-pieces – Leicester’s kryptonite for the last few seasons. Whilst his numbers are nothing to shout about this season (four goals and two assists in 36 Premier League games), Rice’s game isn’t defined by statistics, instead by his overall performance on the pitch.
Having already amassed 243 appearances for the Hammers at only 24, it’s clear just how important Rice is to this squad. The beating heart of the midfield – taking over from Mark Noble – the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Boubakary Soumare must get in to Rice if they are to dictate the midfield.
Having already earnt 41 England caps, as well as three caps for Ireland, Rice is a guaranteed starter for the Three Lions and will use all of his experience against Leicester, so they cannot let him grow into the game. Frustrate Rice enough and you can disrupt and stop the entire engine of United.
Lucas Paqueta
Signed for a club-record fee in August, Paqueta made the switch from Lyon to London in a £37million move as both he, and the club, saw him as their talisman in search for European success. Perhaps it was the fee, or the fact he is a Brazilian international, but high hopes were placed on his shoulders and he failed to deliver much in 2022.
Since the World Cup though, Paqueta’s form has improved significantly and his rise has coincided with West Ham’s escape from the relegation zone, as well as their charge to the Europa Conference League final. Not yet delivering week-in, week-out, Paqueta has only produced four goals and three assists in his debut Premier League season, but will be hoping to double those numbers now he has found his rhythm in England.
Like Rice, Paqueta is capable of the spectacular and recently scored a stunner against Liverpool. Whilst Soumare and KDH must break up Rice’s game, they also need to work with the defence in order to squeeze out the Brazilian; if he gets time and space, he can hurt you.
Whether it be Wout Faes, Harry Souttar, or Jonny Evans, their passing must be to a very high standard on Sunday, at no point can they allow themselves to be caught out against the snappy attacker.
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.
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.