Leicester City will fight for their Premier League safety in front of their own supporters as Europa Conference League finalists West Ham United visit the King Power Stadium looking to spoilt the party.
The decision to replace Brendan Rodgers with Dean Smith hasn’t gone to plan, the Foxes picking up six points from a possible 21 and they were fortunate to finish up goalless after an extremely defensively display at St.James’ Park on Monday. They can’t afford to be so poor against a West Ham side who all but ended Leeds United’s hope of survival last Sunday despite having nothing to play for in the Premier League.
It’s the final day of the Premier League season and with so much riding on this fixture, we’ve put together a stats pack guide to help you build your own Leicester vs West Ham bet builder. For more information on how to use our guide to build your own bet builder, click here, and scroll down for our Leicester vs West Ham bet builder tips.
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Leicester vs West ham Predicted Lineups
Smith to bring back Leicester’s big guns
Dean Smith took a massive risk on Monday night by fielding an uber-defensive starting XI in a bid to contain Newcastle and come away with a result that gives them a chance going into the final day. To his fortune, it worked. We can expect the big guns to return on Sunday with James Maddison and Harvey Barnes sure to return to the starting XI.
West Ham rotating to look after key players
With little to play for in the Premier League, David Moyes has gone about rotating his team to ensure they are ready for big European affairs. Despite this, they have continued to perform in the league, beating Man United and Leeds recently. It’s likely that regulars Bowen, Rice and Soucek will start but Emerson Palmieri and Pablo Fornals could get the call-up again for league action.
Leicester vs West ham Team Stats
Leicester having major issues defensively
Defensive issues have been the primary concern for Leicester this season, underperforming against an xG against total that is already nowhere near good enough for a club with their ambition. More concerning is their set-piece issues, the Foxes conceding the fourth most corners in the league and also conceding the fourth most set-piece goals of any Premier League team.
West Ham underperforming in front of goal but doing enough
Like Sunday’s opponents, West Ham have spent their recent years in the top half of the Premier League before falling short this term. Their efforts in front of goal have been the problem for much of the campaign but since mid-January, the Hammers have scored two or more goals in five of their last 7 matches against bottom half sides. Curiously, no side in the Premier League has received fewer cards than the Hammers this season.
Leicester vs West ham Shots and Shots on Target Stats
Returning duo key in front of goal for Leicester
Leicester lacked any sort of punch on Monday night and Smith would do well to recall Barnes and Maddison who have been the club’s brightest sparks in the final third term. Barnes has had three or more shots in five of his last eight starts while Maddison has had three or more shots in four of his last eight starts and at least one shot on target in seven of those.
Bowen finding his range for West Ham
Jarrod Bowen hasn’t had the same impact on West Ham this season but the ex-Hull City winger has started to find his range again in recent weeks, managing a shot on target in seven of his last eight Premier League starts. Lucas Paqueta is also showing more confidence, the Brazilian World Cup star managing two or more shots in seven of his last nine starts.
Leicester vs West ham Goal and Assists Stats
Maddison due a moment of brilliance
James Maddison has found things difficult since the turn of the year with just one goal in his last 13 Premier League matches for Leicester. However, his shooting numbers remain high and with Leicester pushing for safety, he might be worth backing in your Leicester vs West Ham bet builder to score or assist at 2.1. Barnes is the club’s top goalscorer and he can be backed to score anytime at 3.1.
Slow season but Bowen the main man for West Ham
As noted above, Bowen has had a slower campaign but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching double figures for goal contributions and he was on the scoresheet last time out against Leeds. Declan Rice was also on the scoresheet in that game and his four goals show signs of his progression this season from an entirely defensively minded midfielder to somebody that can do a little bit of everything.
Leicester vs West ham Passing Stats
Wout could be the Faes of Leicester progression
Since Dean Smith has taken charge at Leicester, possession has become secondary with his side giving up 70, 66 and 77 percent of the ball in various matches. They had more of the ball against Leeds and Everton in key match-ups but the players that attempted a high number of passes varied in both matches making a passing selection in your Leicester vs West Ham bet builder difficult.
Rice nice in possession for West Ham
David Moyes has never been a manager overly bothered by his team dominating the ball, preferring shape, structure and clear avenues for attack in the final third. However, when you have a player like Declan Rice, you utilise him and he managed over 70 attempted passes against Leeds. With Leicester focusing on structure themselves, the Hammers may see a fair bit of the ball so it will be worth looking at whether Rice offers value for your bet builder.
Leicester Cards and Fouls Stats
Kristiansen could have his hands full down Leicester’s left
Viktor Kristiansen hasn’t had the easiest starts to life at Leicester and that has shown in his recent outings, the Danish full-back committing ten fouls in his last five starts and two or more fouls in four of those matches. As for the more established members of the Leicester side, Boubakary Soumare isn’t afraid to put a foot in and has committed two or more fouls in four of his last six appearances.
Jarrod Bowen is often the man tasked with taking West Ham up the pitch from deeper positions as evidenced by his 3+ dribbles per 90 minutes. Improvement in form has coincided with an increase in fouls committed against him, the England forward fouled in eight of his last ten Premier League matches and twice or more in six of those. If it’s not Bowen on the end of a kick, it’s attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who has been fouled in each of his last five Premier League starts.
Leicester vs West Ham Key Matchups
Viktor Kristiansen vs Jarrod Bowen
Boubakary Soumare vs Lucas Paqueta
Youri Tielemans vs Tomas Soucek
West Ham Cards and Fouls Stats
West Ham midfield do the dirty work
To get at the West Ham backline, you have to get past the bouncers and Lucas Pacqueta and Tomas Soucek don’t let people by easily. Pacqueta has committed two or more fouls in five of his last six Premier League starts to keep up appearances while Soucek has committed at least one foul in his last 14 matches in all competitions. Keep an eye on giant centre-back Kurt Zouma too, the Frenchman committed a foul in seven of his last ten starts and represents good value for a bet builder.
Unsurprisingly, it’s James Maddison and Harvey Barnes that find themselves on the resulting end of opposition kicks and trips. Maddison is one of the most fouled players in the Premier League and that increased recently with five, four, two, seven, four and three fouls in his last six Premier League starts. As for Barnes, he has been fouled twice in his last four appearances.
Leicester vs West Ham Key Matchups
Lucas Paqueta vs Boubakary Soumare
Tomas Soucek vs James Maddison
Emerson Palmieri vs Tete
Leicester vs West ham Bet Builder Tips and Picks of the Pack
Leicester will be desperate for a win, and the scenario makes for some great value. You can check out my picks below, and even add to them via the stats above.
If you’re looking to sign up to a new bookie before the end of the season, then make sure to check out my Free Bets page.
Leicester vs West Ham
28th May
kick off 16:30 James Maddison 1+ shots on target
Maddison averaging 0.98 shots on target per 90
England midfielder had a shot on target in 7 of last 8 starts
He has managed 3 or more shots at goal in 4 of his last 6 starts
West Ham 3+ shots on targetWest Ham averaging 3.51 shots on target per game
Leicester averaging 4.59 shots on target conceded per game
West Ham had 3 or more shots on target in last 4 matches against teams not called Man City
Leicester conceded at least 3 shots on target in last 10 matches
West Ham over 3.5 cornersWest Ham average 5.46 corners per game
Leicester give up 6.24 corners per game
Leicester given up 4 or more corners in 5 of 7 matches under Dean Smith
West Ham managed over 4 corners in 6 of last 8 Premier League matches
James Maddison 1+ foulsMaddison averaging 1.09 fouls per 90
Maddison has committed a foul in all 8 starts since international break
