GSH Predictions: Experts High On West Ham Against Leeds

West Ham travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United as both teams look to bounce back from difficult 3-1 losses against “Big 6” opponents.

West Ham face off against Leeds United for the first time since 2012 and the first time since 2003 in the Premier League. The Hammers were shell-shocked after their 3-1 loss to Manchester United while Leeds look to bounce back after a 3-1 loss to Chelsea. Who do the GSH experts fancy in this one?

Justin: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham

One thing we do know is that Leeds will be an extremely tough matchup. They will be in all of the West Ham player’s faces, they will press high up the pitch when they lose the ball, and they won’t stop running until the final whistle.

West Ham, on the other hand, have shown organization, work rate, and togetherness during the first part of this Premier League season. They also set up in a way that I believe exploits the way Leeds play.

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Leeds actually play quite a high possession game (4th in the league) while West Ham play to soak up the pressure with three centre-backs. The Hammers will then look to quickly counter-attack, and Leeds do like giving up a goal.

The only question will be if West Ham can be clinical enough when they do have their chances and whether or not the Irons will allow Leeds to pressure them too much with the ball.

All in all, I think we’ll have a very entertaining game but West Ham will prevail. This match will surely show us what this team is made of. A win versus Leeds will give us extreme confidence pushing on for the rest of the season and I believe we’ll get there with goals from Haller and Benrahma.

Adam: Leeds United 2-3 West Ham

An incredibly gritty match is on the cards here and West Ham need to get back on the right track after a disappointing and uncharacteristic second half defensive collapse saw United run away with the three points last week.

Changes should be coming to the team and I anticipate some stellar finishing from whichever forwards get the starting jobs come matchday. No more excuses, stop the slide at one game and overwhelm a solid and threatening Leeds team with offensive prowess. West Ham wins 3-2.

Henry: Leeds United 2-3 West Ham

It will be a very tricky match against Leeds. The Yorkshire side have been inconsistent but have played some great football at times.

The Hammers need to take advantage of the injuries at the back. If the attack can play like they did against United and be a bit more clinical then it could be a field day in front of goal.

Though I do think Leeds will get on the scoresheet, David Moyes’ side should have enough to outscore them.

Jeremiah: Leeds United 1-1 West Ham

The Hammers haven’t faced off against Leeds since 2012. Their past five matchups have either been won by Leeds, or both sides ended level. This history isn’t so much a contributing factor, but it is worth mentioning.

Both clubs are coming off of rough outings last time out and will be looking to rebound. West Ham are the more ”in form” side, but you’d have to think that loss to Manchester United may have taken some wind out of their sails.

With that, I think it’ll be a bit of a deadlock for the majority of the match, with the Hammers conceding late to end the match with both sides earning a point.

Jeff: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham

The Hammers get set to face Leeds for the first time since 2012. My first prediction is that David Moyes makes changes to the starting XI. The old “can’t change a winning side” mantra is out the window now after the collapse to Man U.

Antonio will not be fit and since he has been injured, the Hammers have struggled to score goals, netting two in a match only once during this stretch. Said Benrahma has to start. Since Jarrod Bowen has scored in two of the last three, Pablo Fornals is the odd man out here.

My next prediction is that West Ham will score at least two goals in this one. Partly due to the insertion of Benrahma into the XI and partly due to the fact that Leeds will be without defender and German international Robin Koch after knee surgery this week. Koch’s replacement – Spain International Diego Llorente – is now also hurt – spelling trouble for the Whites.

As for the prediction of the actual results: West Ham show that they truly are a different, more resilient side in this campaign. They come out, play well and earn all three points at Elland Road. West Ham wins 2-1.

Lou: Leeds United 1-1 West Ham

This is a clash that could go either way, so as usual, I’ll play it safe and predict a draw at Elland Road.

Bielsa-ball is in full flow at Leeds and they have taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, but have had some mixed results along the way.

West Ham played as well – in the first half – against Man Utd as they have done in weeks, but their inefficiency in front of goal (along with some dubious officiating) paved the way for a disappointing loss.

This is a great opportunity to get back on track, though, and David Moyes will fancy the points as much as the home side will.