Soccer English Premier League Prediction

West Ham vs Leeds - Match Preview

⚽ 21 May 2023 - 12:30 GMT +0

West Ham booked their spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in midweek, edging out AZ Alkmaar 3-1 across two legs to rubber stamp their ticket to the first major European Cup final since 1976. With their Premier League (PL) safety all but assured, West Ham, is now playing for little in domestic terms, potentially needing just a point to secure their top-flight status for next term if results on Saturday work against them, before all eyes become fixed on their European showdown against Fiorentina on June 7th.

Boss David Moyes will be keen to see his side maintain momentum in the meantime, but with four defeats from their last five PL outings (W1), the Hammers' minds are perhaps already encapsulated by Europe. West Ham did at least win their last home league outing, impressively dispatching Manchester United 1-0, and ought to be confident of following that up considering they haven't lost their final home league game in any of the last five seasons (W3, D2).

The situation is much more desperate for Leeds United, who find themselves staring down the barrel of relegation. They will perhaps see this as an opportune time to face West Ham though, hoping and praying that the Hammers are suffering from an extended hangover after their midweek success, which could allow Leeds to secure victory in their final away league game for a fourth successive season.

Just a solitary point adrift inside the relegation zone, there is still hope for Leeds, especially with relegation escape artist and former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce at the helm. Yet he’s won none of his last eight PL games against West Ham (D3, L5), and another winless performance could help wrap up Leeds’ fate this weekend, as if Everton beat Wolves and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat against Arsenal, then a Leeds defeat would spell the end of their PL journey.

📋 Players to watch: West Ham’s hero in midweek, Pablo Fornals, has closed the scoring in four of his last five club goalscoring appearances and netted in this corresponding fixture last season. Though perhaps not best known for his goalscoring exploits, Leeds full-back Rasmus Kristensen has popped up with three in their last ten games, all of which arrived after the hour mark.

⚡ Hot streak: Leeds have scored exactly once in their last four PL away games.