West Ham travel up to Elland road to take on Leeds United and the Hammers will be looking to bounce back after their defeat to Manchester United.
Both Leeds and West Ham have started the season promisingly and will both be looking to improve on their good starts. West Ham have had the better form of late, having won three of their last four league games and Moyes’ men will be hoping to continue their good form with a rare win at Elland Road.
Leeds’ form has slightly tailed off recently but Marcelo Bielsa’s side have still been playing some great football and have made themselves a tough side to beat.
A win would see us rise up to 5th place in the table, while a win for Leeds would see them draw level on points with us and could potentially allow them to leapfrog us if we completely capitulated and conceded five goals.
WEST HAM TEAM NEWS
The Hammers will be without Michail Antonio who has been ruled out for up to two weeks with a hamstring problem and have now been dealt a heavy blow with the loss of star wingback Arthur Masuaku, who has just undergone knee surgery.
Masuaku has been one of Moyes’ top performers this season and has excelled in the wingback role with Cresswell behind him. This now could cause Moyes a major headache as the Scotsman will now have to call up either Ben Johnson or Emmanuel Longelo or revert to a back four.
Masuaku likely to be out until the new year after having surgery.
— Henry Tomlinson (@HenryTJourno) December 10, 2020
Will West Ham revert to a back four or will Johnson come in at LWB?
If the team goes to a back four - both Fornals and Benrahma could play together. pic.twitter.com/nF5xO4UlAa
More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham
- Brighton vs West Ham predictions: Can James Ward-Prowse help end the curse?
- West Ham and two Premier League rivals made huge transfer stand
- Lucas Paqueta bet allegations discussed in West Ham and Man City transfer talks
- Bournemouth vs West Ham predictions: Premier League opener amid transfer chaos
- West Ham near Denis Zakaria transfer after final James Ward-Prowse bid
Moyes could be tempted to revert to the back four as it would allow Said Benrahma to be given his
first start for the Hammers after a good string of performances off the bench. It would also allow Pablo Fornals to keep his place and to play in his more natural and preferred position of CAM.
Despite the loss of Masuaku, the Hammers are going into the game with a strong squad and have been boosted by the return of Andriy Yarmolenko. The Ukrainian has been keen to prove himself to Moyes and even played in the U23s game against Peterborough to gain match fitness.
LEEDS UNITED TEAM NEWS
Leeds have been dealt a huge blow by the losses of Centre Backs Robin Koch and Diego Llorente meaning the Whites are desperately short at the back.
In a bizarre term of events, it also seems as if Bielsa has already named his XI which he revealed on Thursday. The Argentine has said that his team will be: Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Klich, Moreno, Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford.
Reporter: Are you going to keep West Ham guessing?
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 9, 2020
Marcelo: No, here's my Starting XI... pic.twitter.com/xoCGD4JvyU
Whether this proves to be a stroke of genius or a disaster is yet to be seen.
PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UPS
West Ham formation: 4-3-3 (4)
L. Fabianski, V. Coufal, F. Balbuena, A. Ogbonna, A. Cresswell, D. Rice ©, T. Soucek, P.Fornals, S. Benrahma, J. Bowen & S. Haller.
Leeds United Formation: I. Meslier, S. Dallas, L. Ayling, L. Cooper, E. Alioski, K. Phillips, M. Klich, Rodrigo, Raphinha, J. Harrison, P. Bamford.
MATCH PREDICTION
Despite losing to Man United, West Ham dominated the game and really should have put the game to bed in the first half. If the Hammers don’t take their chances against Leeds then they will get punished again.
West Ham have been dangerous with set pieces of late and that is where they will be able to hurt Leeds who on the contrary, have been poor at defending from corners. West Ham’s delivery and height from corners will be a tough test for Leeds and it could prove to be too much to handle.
The home side will prove tough to beat and have the ability to damage the Hammers through Patrick Bamford and new boy Raphinha who has just hit some form.
Leeds will throw everything at this game as they haven’t won in their last three games and Moyes’ men will have to be on top form to get our first Premier League win at Elland Road since the year 2000.
It will be a tough game and it will be hard to break Leeds down but they’ve proven over the last month that they can break teams down and win tough games the hard way.
West Ham’s record at Elland Road isn’t particularly promising but the Hammers have shown this season that they can overcome the odds when they aren’t in their favour.
Overall, it will be a very entertaining match with both sides playing well and both desperate to continue their form. However, Leeds’ defensive crisis and frailty from set-pieces will hurt the home side.
SCORE PREDICTION
2-1 to West Ham with Haller and Benrahma scoring the goals.