The Premier League weekend begins with a vital game for West Ham United. It’s their first home game since David Moyes was appointed manager and a win over Leicester City will take them out of the bottom three at least for a day. West Ham start the weekend in 18th place in the Premier League but only a point away from safety. A win over Leicester will take them to within a point of their opponents but they are on a run of five league games without a win.
It’s not a great atmosphere at the London Stadium at the best of times and most fans wish they were back at Upton Park. The appointment of David Moyes wasn’t a popular one and those fans who did travel to Watford last Sunday were called for the board to quit after another league defeat.
David Moyes now has a clear idea of just how hard a job he must avoid West Ham being relegated. He’ll be fearful of a fixture list that sees his team play Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal in the four games after this home match against Leicester. The chances are they will be in even deeper relegation trouble come the end of the year.
Home form has seen them win two league games and lose the other three. They have lost the last two home league matches and three of the last four. Defence is an area Moyes must sort out and quickly considering those upcoming games. They have conceded at least twice in their last five league games and that’s enough to scare any West Ham fan.
Their opponents lost to Manchester City at the weekend but 2-0 is a decent result against the league leaders. Leicester tend to do well against sides outside of the top six with three wins and four draws but have lost all their games against the top sides. The loss against the league leaders ended a run of six league and cup games without defeat. They only have one away league win earned at struggling Swansea City but drawn three and lost to Manchester United and Arsenal. An away game at West Ham definitely fits into the category of the kind of games they can at least avoid defeat in.
Mahrez has been heavily criticised since their Premier League title triumph, but he has scored in two of the last three games and if back to form is a serious threat to the Hammers this weekend.
Conclusion
West Ham fans are already disappointed over the appointment of David Moyes and he has to get some positive results sooner rather than later. With the fixture list they have that isn’t going to be an easy task and a home win here is vital. Leicester City come into the game fresh from the loss to the league leaders, but they weren’t disgraced in that match. They may be a shadow of the club that won the Premier League but nearly always a match for sides who aren’t in title contention.
The Hammers need serious work on their defensive abilities and if they carry on the way they have been playing, then Mahrez and Vardy could have a very enjoyable Friday evening in London. An away win with both teams scoring looks the most likely result in this math.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
West Ham United – LLLWD
Watford – WLLLW
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
18/03/17 – West Ham United 2 Leicester City 3
31/11/16 – Leicester City 1 West Ham United 0
17/04/16 – Leicester City 2 West Ham United 2
15/08/15 – West Ham United 1 Leicester City 2
04/04/15 – Leicester City 2 West Ham United 1
- West Ham are yet to draw a home league game this season.
- Leicester City have drawn three of their six away league games this season.
- West Ham are on a run of five league games without a win.
- West Ham have conceded at least twice in their last five league and cup games.
- West Ham have lost three of their last four home games
- Four of the last five home league games have seen West Ham score a goal.
- Leicester City have only lost one of their last seven league and cup games.
- Leicester City have scored at least twice in their last three away league games.
- Leicester City have conceded in five of their last six league and cup games.
- West Ham have gone six league and cup games without a win over Leicester.