West Ham face tough challenge in Bielsa’s Leeds United
By Fraser Day
After defeat to Aston Villa, Leeds United will travel to the London Stadium looking to cause an upset against West Ham who continue to fight for a place in the top four.
While Marcelo Bielsa’s team have received plenty of appraisals this season for their high energy, attacking approach they’re also one of the most inconsistent teams in the Premier League. West Ham rank second in the Premier League for points collected since the turn of the year, while Leeds have accumulated four defeats in their last six matches.
Premier League giants back in business?
On 35 points Leeds have already guaranteed themselves another season of Premier League football despite still having 12 games to play and with the arrival of several top players last summer the Yorkshire giants look set to stay.
Leeds rank fifth for goals scored this year on 43 just 3 goals ahead of West Ham but despite this Bielsa’s side sit eleventh in the table due to there poor defensive record. Only the Premier League’s bottom two clubs have conceded more goals than the Whites having let in a whopping 44 goals.
Leeds travel to the London Stadium on Monday night for a tough challenge against West Ham with the hosts looking to maintain their European push.
With a European spot is perhaps out of the question, Leeds currently sit just four points behind eighth-placed Tottenham with a win against the Hammers on Monday night sending them to within touching distance of the top eight on their first season back in the Premier League for 16 years.
On Form Hammers
With West Ham’s only Premier League defeats in 2021 falling to Liverpool and Manchester City, there is no doubt that David Moyes side is a force to be reckoned with in their current form. After a terrific win over Tottenham last weekend, the Hammers will be beaming with confidence heading into a game where their opponents are partial to conceding a few goals.
Since Jesse Lingard pulled on the Claret and Blue, he’s been nothing short of world-class with his direct attacking play and clinical finishing causing defensive headaches against all the opponents he’s faced. With Michail Antonio back fit and scoring again the east Londoners seem to be firing on all cylinders as they attempt to complete a rare double over a newly promoted side.