Soccer English Premier League Prediction

Leicester vs West Ham - Match Preview

⚽ 28 May 2023 - 15:30 GMT +0

The past decade has been extraordinarily memorable for Leicester City, but memories such as the mother of all Premier League (PL) title shocks in 2016 and the FA Cup win of 2021 will turn to dust should they fail to beat West Ham United in this relegation showdown. Despite picking up a respectable 0-0 draw at high-flying Newcastle on Monday, they will still be slaves to events just over 120 miles away at Goodison Park on this ‘Survival Sunday’.

Over on Merseyside, a victory for Everton will send the Foxes down alongside Leeds no matter what happens here, meaning Dean Smith’s men must win for just a second time in nine competitive home games. The Foxes conceded first in each of the previous eight, contributing to a poor record where they’ve rescued just eight points from a possible 39 after permitting an opposition opener on their own turf.

West Ham may have a UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) final on the horizon, but there is still an obligation to avoid rustiness for their first major cup final in 17 years. Given that, nothing drastic is expected in terms of rotation, though a few fringe players can be expected to get a cameo at least as David Moyes’ men aim to move onto 43 points and do their boss’ old side of 11 years a favour in the process.

That might be enough to see the Hammers finish as high as 12th, though a significant goal swing in their favour is also required on top of a win and a defeat for Chelsea, as well as the Wolves failing to win. However, a preceding run of three PL away defeats suggests that the Hammers will struggle to get anywhere near that slightly more respectable berth, especially with their last two road trips on domestic shores seeing them lose one-half by a 2+ goal margin.

📋 Players to watch: Leicester’s Timothy Castagne was but a Nick Pope save away from bagging an injury-time winner at Newcastle to put the Foxes above Everton on goal difference, though he scored the decider in Leicester’s latest home win. As for West Ham, England U19 international Divin Mubama may enjoy more than the solitary minute he got against Leeds. He was a UECL scorer against AEK Larnaca back in March.

⚡ Hot stat: Five of the previous six H2Hs had seen a team lead ‘to-nil’ at half-time.