West Ham United square off against Leeds United at Elland Road on Friday evening looking to strengthen their position at the top end of the table.
Both teams will be aiming to correct their wrongs from last weekend. West Ham suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United, and Leeds’ first game at Stamford Bridge since 2003 also ended on the same score-line.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side could sit level on points with West Ham if they secure victory on Friday, while David Moyes and his side could jump to 5th place with a win.
Team News
Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa bizarrely named his starting eleven in Wednesday’s press conference revealing that full-back Luke Ayling will deputise at centre-back in the absence of the injured Koch who has been ruled out for the foreseeable future.
New signing Rodrigo Moreno has also been confirmed in the line-up, looking to add some creativity and goals to Leeds play.
Defender Diego Llorente has been ruled out of action for the next two weeks nursing a muscle strain.
West Ham
David Moyes has a decision to make this Friday, with Michail Antonio hopefully fit to come back into the team after a lack of fitness ruled him out of last week’s defeat to Manchester United.
Embed from Getty ImagesSaid Benrahma is still awaiting his first start in West Ham colours, but Pablo Fornals could still feature from the off against Leeds.
Ryan Fredericks is expected to be available after a three-match absence with a groin injury.
Other than that, West Ham have no fresh injury concerns.
Match Stats
- Patrick Bamford is averaging a league goal every 118minutes this term
- Leeds United are unbeaten in nine meetings with West Ham, winning five of them, since a home defeat in November 2000
- The most recent Premier League encounter between the sides came in February 2003, with the hosts Leeds winning 1-0.
- Victory would ensure West Ham reach 20 points from 12 Premier League games for just the second time.
Key player to watch:
Leeds United: Kalvin Phillips
West Ham United: Jarred Bowen
Likely Line-Ups:
Leeds: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison, Raphinha, Bamford
West Ham: Fabianski; Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Masuaku; Bowen, Fornals, Haller
Score Prediction: Leeds 2-1 West Ham
For more Overtime sport content click here and for more football content click here.
