West Ham vs Leicester Preview: Team News & Prediction

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West Ham United earned themselves a vital and much-needed victory in a London derby against Arsenal at the weekend as they now take on relegation-bound Leicester City this week.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 27th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports app / US – Universo

West Ham Preview: Much-needed performance

West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game as the Irons defeated title challenging, or at least they were title challenging, Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a London derby at the weekend.

Graham Potter’s side had slipped down towards the bottom three, albeit still with a nine-point cushion that has now been extended to 12 points, in previous weeks due to some teething issues following his appointment in mid-January.

Leicester Preview: Pressure on Ruud

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who only replaced Steve Cooper as recently as November, is reportedly under pressure once again with the Foxes beginning this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting five points adrift of safety.

The visitors were most recently hammered by Brentford at the weekend by four goals to nil with the Bees ruthlessly dominating the struggling Foxes, racing into a 3-0 lead in the first-half before adding another late on.

West Ham Team News: Still no Paqueta or Coufal

Graham Potter has confirmed that Lucas Paqueta and Vladimir Coufal are still sidelined for the hosts, although the latter could be involved in their next game. They remain without attacking trio Crysencio Summerville, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug, too.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Scarles; Bowen, Kudus

Unavailable: Coufal (Injured), Paqueta (Injured), Summerville (Injured), Antonio (Injured), Fullkrug (Injured)

Questionable: 

Leicester Team News: Nothing fresh

In his pre-match press conference, Ruud van Nistelrooy has confirmed there are no fresh injury concerns for Leicester to deal with this week, despite Caleb Okoli being taken off against Brentford. English full-back James Justin could return in time for the trip to the capital but remains a doubt.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Coulibaly, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare; Decordova-Reid, El Khannouss, Ayew; Vardy

Unavailable: Pereira (Injured), Fatawu (Injured)

Questionable: Justin (Fitness)

West Ham vs Leicester Prediction

West Ham United are undergoing some fairly major tactical changes as they try and evolve their style of football away from percentage-based effectiveness and a general reactivity of David Moyes and then Julen Lopetegui to something more possession-dominant with Graham Potter. Leicester have put in some reasonable performance under Van Nistelrooy but they do appear to be a team destined for an immediate return to the Championship with West Ham the firm favourites for this one, especially at the London Stadium.

West Ham vs Leicester Tip: West Ham to win