West Ham United FC
Leeds United
Leeds United
West Ham looking to re-establish their grip on the top four against up and down Leeds
West Ham to win 1-0
What a difference a week makes when you’re chasing a top four position.
For West Ham, that defeat against Manchester City has cost them three places in the table, after Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham all won their respective fixtures.
Not that they played badly in defeat – indeed they could well have ended City’s fantastic winning streak, but it now makes this game even more important to win. Should they claim three points here, they could overtake either Chelsea or Everton.
Leeds are arguably the hardest team in the league to predict, rarely going long without either a win or a defeat, and as such sit virtually bang in the middle of the table right now.
With a European place now almost certainly off the cards, but also well ahead of relegation, you would feel that there is little left to play for other than pride for Leeds this season.
This is the 100th meeting of the two clubs.
Form Guide (all comps): DLWWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Won four of their last five home games
Only City have earned more points than Hammers in 2021
Reasons to be fearful:
Winless in their last seven home games against Leeds
Confidence could be knocked at slipping to 7th
With 12 games remaining for West Ham this season, there is definitely still time for them to clinch a Champions League spot, although it will be an uphill battle with the calibre of clubs ahead of them in the table.
Chelsea have been formidable under their new manager, Everton have been good all season, and now it appears that Tottenham are clicking into gear once more.
West Ham have a talented squad, and an experienced manager, but it will take some doing.
Here, the Hammers could face being without both their first and second choice goalkeepers due to injury, with Fabianski and Randolph facing late fitness tests.
Having had a week’s rest after their City defeat, the Hammers will be raring to go here.
Star Man – Michail Antonio
Has been directly involved in 19 goals in his last 22 starts for the club – he’s a fantastic asset to the club.
Form Guide (all comps): WLLWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Have scored in 11 of their 13 away games this season
Phillips has an outside chance of being fit
Reasons to be fearful:
Poor record in London, losing 12 of 13 matches
Have lost three of their last four games
One thing you almost always get in a match with Leeds is goals, and a result either way.
Only two of their 26 matches this season have ended in a draw, with the Peacocks winning 11 and losing 13, conceding 44 and scoring 43. They have the closest goal difference of any team in the league, and it’s little wonder why they’re sitting right in the middle of the table.
They’ve won four of their last eight games, but also lost four, ensuring that those top half spots are out of reach for now.
Against West Ham, they’ll face almost the opposite of what they are – a consistent, efficient, well-organised side who have the ability to grind out results when not at their best.
They are hopeful that Kalvin Phillips could feature after injury, though may require more time on the sidelines.
Star Man – Raphinha
Has directly been involved in eight goals in nine away starts in the league
Should be chances at both ends
Leeds could either be incredible or disappointing
West Ham are favourites
If Leeds play to their absolute best, they’ll likely come away with victory here, as they have done when they’ve played well throughout the season.
However, they are not capable of playing with the kind of consistency required to move further up the table and into the sort of positions that West Ham find themselves in.
The Hammers are favourites to win here, but the result could go either way.
West Ham to win 1-0
