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.
Team news for the Whites and the Hammers
With both sides out of the domestic cups and neither side currently partaking in European football, squad rotation is not something either manager will have on their mind as they enter the final third of the season.
For Leeds, it’s a tough battle at home to fifth-placed Chelsea following their game with the Hammers, while the Irons travel to Old Trafford looking to avenge the narrow defeat they suffered in the FA Cup last month.
Leeds United are set to be without key men Rodrigo and long term absentee Robin Koch who underwent knee surgery back in December. Kalvin Phillips could be set for a return to the starting XI after recovering from a calf injury which he picked up against Crystal Palace last month.
For West Ham, it’s a familiar story when it comes to injuries with Arthur Masukaku still working his way back to fitness and Angelo Ogbonna and Andriy Yarmolenko several weeks from full fitness. Many fans worried about the absence of Oggy at the back after his stand out performances this season, but Issa Diop has seized his chance and hasn’t looked at all out of place.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is expected to return for the Hammers in between the sticks after missing the Manchester City game due to an injury he picked up in training after an unnamed player stood on his arm. Fabianski’s expected return will see Darren Randolph return to the bench after the Irish international was also seemingly struggling with injury when taking goal kicks.
How will the Hammers line up following their loss against Man City?
While the Hammers form has been nothing short of impressive this season David Moyes will be mindful of his opponents attacking threat. With Patrick Bamford still in the race for the golden boot and Brazilian winger Raphinha looking razor-sharp in recent weeks, Moyes won’t take Leeds for granted.
Most managers don’t tend to change a winning team, however with Jarrod Bowen seemingly out of form and Said Benrahma waiting in the shadows could the Algerian finally stake his place in the starting XI?
West Ham Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Fabianski, Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Rice (C), Soucek, Benrahma, Fornals, Lingard and Antonio.
With Leeds recent defeat to Aston Villa, Bielsa would normally look to change his team however, due to injury it is likely he will remain with the same starting XI that was narrowly defeated by Villa last weekend.
Leeds United Predicted Lineup (4-1-4-1)
Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Cooper (C), Dallas, Struijk, Costa, Roberts, Klich, Raphinha and Bamford.
Predicted Result
On paper, you’d expect the Hammers to win this given their hot run of form since the turn of the year however I feel all long term West Ham fans will feel an upset is due and this weekend’s opponents must not be under-estimated.
After beating Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road earlier in the season David Moyes will be confident his side can replicate that performance and claim another three points and while I think the away side will test our defence I can’t see them being able to deal with West Ham’s front line.
I fancy the Hammers to pick up three points with a 3-1 win over the Yorkshire based club and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we saw Benrahma chip in with his first goal for the club. It’s a fixture that shouldn’t be short of goals with both sides believing they can win this fixture.