West Ham v Leicester predicted line-ups, how to watch, team news, referee and stats

West Ham once again ruined Arsenal's title chances at the weekend, now they might be in a position to whack the final nail in the coffin of Ruud van Nistelrooy's short-lived Leicester career.

Van Nistelrooy's Leicester journey actually started with a slightly fortuitous 3-1 victory over West Ham in December.

West Ham had 31 shots to Leicester's eight, but could only find the back of the net in the 93rd minute.

Cue much celebration from the Leicester faithful, their messiah had truly arrived...but he really hadn't.

Leicester picked up just four points from the next 12 games, ten of those defeats, and were dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester United.

Van Nistelrooy is still yet to keep a clean sheet as Leicester manager, has overseen a massive 40 conceded goals in just 16 games in charge and his side are now five points from safety in the Premier League table.

This week two of his first team coaches, Ben Dawson and Danny Alcock, were sacked after the 4-0 Brentford defeat. Van Nistelrooy kept his job...just.

That Brentford defeat meant Leicester became the first Premier League side to suffer six straight home defeats without scoring a goal.

The Foxes come up against a West Ham side fresh from impressively placing a bomb under Arsenal's title challenge.

West Ham hadn't won in four before they rocked up to the Emirates and looked like easy pickings for the title challengers, but it wasn't to be.

But there is some hope for Leicester, as under Graham Potter, West Ham haven't played well at home - the Crystal Palace and Brentford defeats particular lowlights.

 

West Ham v Leicester team news

It will be interesting to see if Potter sticks with the team that beat Arsenal at the weekend, given they were set up with a back three and counter-attacking wing backs.

Potter might return to a back four, which will give him a nice bit of a head-scratcher for who plays at left-back.

Emerson has spent most of the season there but was dropped for the Arsenal clash in favour of young Oliver Scarles who put in a man-of-the-match display and deserves to start again.

The veteran Aaron Cresswell was used in the back three and will likely make way due to the limited rest time for a 35-year-old. However, he was an important experienced head guiding Scarles through the Arsenal game.

Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson are pushing for a start and either could take Cresswell's shirt depending on how attacking Potter is planning on being. The rest of the side should remain unchanged.

Vladimir Coufal and Lucas Paqueta are still out injured for West Ham, while Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio are all long-term absentees.

For Leicester, James Justin is set to have a late test fitness, and Woyo Coulibaly will continue at right-back if he doesn't make it. Caleb Okoli is also a doubt with a knock.

Abdul Fatawu, Ricardo Pereira, Odsonne Edouard and Harry Soutar are on the long-term crock list.

After being picked apart by Brentford, Van Nistelrooy will likely make some changes with Jannik Vestergaard, Facundo Buonanotte, and Stephy Mavididi all pushing for a start.

 

West Ham predicted line-up v Leicester:

Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles; Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Soler, Bowen, Kudus

 

Leicester predicted line-up v West Ham

Hermansen; Coulibaly, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Soumare, Ndidi; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy

 

West Ham v Leicester: How to watch and listen

West Ham v Leicester will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports.

For audio commentary you can tune into BBC Radio London and BBC Radio 5 Live in the UK, and worldwide on the official website and app.

 

West Ham v Leicester stats

- Leicester have beaten West Ham in their last three Prem meetings and has not lost to the Irons since August 2021.

- West Ham have only won four of the last 19 meetings between the clubs

- West Ham had 31 shots against Leicester when they met in December, their most in a single Premier League game since the 2005/06 season. They still lost 3-1.

- Both sides have scored three goals in their last five, but Leicester haven't scored in their last two.

 

Who is the referee for West Ham v Leicester?

Anthony Taylor is a late replacement for Stuart Attwell to referee the West Ham v Leicester match

Constantine Hatzidakis and Natalie Aspinall are the assistant refs, with Rob Jones as the fourth official. Michael Salisbury is the VAR.

Taylor has been ref in 39 West Ham matches, and this will be his 24th Premier League game of the season. That's the most of any top-flight ref this season.

The 46-year-old has dished out 72 yellow and two red cards this campaign, an average of 3.13 and 0.09 respectively.

He also averages 21.13 fouls per game, which is the third lowest amount of all refs used in the Premier League this season.

This is the first time he has officiated a game involving West Ham and Leicester since December 31, 2016. Marc Albrighton scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at the King Power.

Taylor brandished five yellows to Leicester players Kasper Schmeichel, Robert Huth, Daniel Amartey, Danny Simpson and Albrighton.

Angelo Ogbonna and the long-forgotten Havard Nordtveit were booked for West Ham.

 

Graham Potter's pre-match quotes

About Leicester game:

"Every game in the Premier League is tough, and Leicester have quality and will be looking to turn their fortunes around. We have to have humility and a respect for the opponent, which we have, but we need everything like every other game."

 

About Ruud van Nistelrooy

"I understand, because we've all been through things like that. You need results in the short term to get a chance at the medium and long term.

All of the jobs are complicated for different reasons. I've got enough to worry about here at West Ham, and I'm sure it's the same for Ruud."

 

On home form

"Every team wants to do well in front of their own supporters. It's not that straightforward, but we want to do better in front of our fans.

"To get results, you need some consistency around performances. We haven't been able to do that, but Thursday is an opportunity to do that. We're looking to play well and get the result, and build that togetherness."

 

Ruud van Nistelrooy pre-match quotes:

On Leicester morale:

"The mood is lifted. It's started again in a new week and a new challenge. We have reacted after a bad result - you could say a bad performance - before. The players reacted really well and started the week really well."

 

On Leicester being the biggest challenge of his career:

"To go through all the challenges I've faced and compare them now... I called it a mountain to climb but life is about climbing mountains and mountains are there to be climbed. That challenge I take. We will keep climbing and we slip sometimes - but we get up and start again."

 

On Leicester's run-in:

"We have to be resilient and strong. You have to show your character, reflect, learn and improve. We know the performance against Brentford wasn't good enough, but this team has always reacted and I expect them to do so on Thursday."

 

West Ham v Leicester match odds and betting tips:

West Ham 6/10 - Draw 3/1 - Leicester 4/1

Bets bets:

West Ham to win - 3/5

Over 2.5 goals - 7/10

 

West Ham v Leicester betting preview

West Ham’s win against Arsenal moved them onto 30 points, which should be enough to finally remove any lingering threat of relegation.

Leicester are five points and a considerable goal difference behind 17th-placed Wolves, and they go to the London Stadium on the back of a 4-0 thrashing at home to Brentford.

Funnily enough, the Bees also put four past City back in November, before Ruud van Nistelrooy claimed his first win when beating the Hammers 3-1.

It does set up a similar situation where the visitors are likely to give an improved performance, and naturally, the hosts could let themselves down on the back of such an upset.

On the other hand, Leicester are dire. They’ve lost 10 of their last 11, scored four goals and conceded 28.

This could be a rare opportunity for West Ham to win back-to-back games in the Premier League for the first time since April 3, and we think they’ll seize the opportunity.

 

Click to read the remainder of our West Ham v Leicester betting preview

 

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(All odds are correct at the time of article publication)

 

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