Leeds United and West Ham United will clash in this Friday night Premier League fixture with both teams desperate for points to move up the table.
Match News and Current Form
Leeds have won only two Premier League games this term (D2, L4) and, after unwillingly converting their possession dominance into a 2-0 defeat to fellow promoted side Burnley, they’re ominously one point worse off after eight games than they were in their previous Premier League campaign (2022/23), which ended in relegation. Now sitting just three points clear of the relegation zone, now would be as good a time as any to commence another formidable run at Elland Road after they lost to Tottenham on matchday seven to end their previous 23-game unbeaten sequence in league football at home (W18, D5).
One of the few sides below them are 19th-placed visitors West Ham, who just like Leeds lost their latest fixture 2-0 when they struggled to threaten let alone challenge Brentford on Monday night. It’s a quick turnaround for the Hammers and recently appointed manager Nuno Espírito Santo as he tries to arrest a five-match winless run (D1, L4) in the Premier League. They’re out to shrink a four-point gap to Leeds here and could take heart from the fact that all four of their Premier League points this season, including their only win, arrived on the road (W1, D1, L2).
Head-to-Head History
West Ham have lost only one of the last nine competitive H2Hs (W5, D3), scoring at least twice in each of the last seven to take place this decade (W5, D1, L1). They’re also unbeaten in their last four visits to Elland Road (W2, D2).
Win ProbabilityOpta by StatsPerform
Hot Stats and Streaks
In three of Leeds’ last four Premier League games, both teams scored before half-time.
All four of Leeds’ home league games this season were level at the break.
West Ham have scored a competition-low one first-half Premier League goal this season.
There were over ten corners in three of West Ham’s four league away games this term.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored only once this term but boasts six goals from 13 games against West Ham, opening the scoring in three of his four goalscoring appearances against the Londoners. Tomáš Souček’s only goal for West Ham this season came away from home, as did his last three league strikes of last season - three of those four goals arrived after half-time.
Noah Okaformissed Leeds’ defeat at Burnley with a muscle injury while Wilfried Gnonto remains doubtful after undergoing hernia surgery during the international break. Niclas Füllkrug remains sidelined for West Ham.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
This could be a tense and slow-building battle between two struggling teams, so our tip is to back the draw at half-time.
