West Ham United will look to heap more misery on the reigning Champions Leicester City when they make the way to the King Power Stadium on New Year’s Eve. The Foxes have failed to live up to the expectations and pressure of being champions and have struggled badly this season.
While they have surprised many in Europe with a near perfect group stage campaign, the number of matches have taken a toll on them. Premier League teams now know what to expect from them and have adjusted accordingly thus rendering the Foxes almost impotent in important areas.
While the loss of form of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez along with the exit of Kante has been cited as a reason by many, the fact that teams now know how to handle them has been an important part of the drastic dip.
West Ham, on the other hand, started off the season on a disastrous note themselves. Having been knocked out of the Europa League, they failed to get going in the League. But recent weeks has seen them pick up vital points and with 3 wins and a draw in 4, they are tantalisingly close to the Top 10, with goal difference blocking their entry.
The match is expected to be an entertaining one and both teams will believe they can beat the other. Perfect recipe for an end to end game.
Predicted 4-2-3-1 West Ham United Lineup Vs Leicester City
DEFENCE
Randolph has firmly displaced Adrian as the No.1 and will look to make the goalkeeper’s jersey his own in the long term. The Hammers have had issues in the right-back spot with Arbeloa and Byram not being able to play for some reason or the other, injury included.
Nordtveit played there in the last game and is likely to continue in the role. Winston Reid And Ogbonna will most likely form the centre-back pairing and will look to keep the likes of Slimani and Mahrez out. Cresswell will be the left-back.
