David Moyes looks set to make three West Ham changes for Leeds as favourite comes back in for the must-win clash.
West Ham head to Elland Road with manager Moyes under severe pressure and against the backdrop of the sad passing of co-owner David Gold.
It is yet another of what promises to be a long line of games being billed “must win” for the Hammers against Jesse Marsch’s fellow strugglers.
Lose and West Ham could find themselves in the relegation zone, win and they will actually leapfrog their opponents in the table.
West Ham go into the game with confidence at rock bottom off the back of five consecutive defeats and a 2-0 home loss to Brentford last time out.
Leeds meanwhile look in good shape by comparison. Leeds were widely praised for taking the game to Manchester City in a recent 3-1 loss.
And Marsch’s side followed that up by holding high-flying Newcastle to a draw last time out.
West Ham are boosted by the return of Nayef Aguerd but Kurt Zouma remains out as does Maxwel Cornet.
Michail Antonio is a slight doubt due to illness but should be able to take his place on the bench.
In our predicted team Moyes makes three West Ham changes for Leeds as a favourite comes back in for the must-win clash.
Word is Lukasz Fabianski will keep his place in goal despite calls for Alphonse Areola to replace him.
We think Moyes will revert to four at the back after West Ham’s midfield were overrun against Brentford.
Change number one will see Aguerd come in to replace Angelo Ogbonna with Aaron Cresswell moving to left-back.
Change number two will see Thilo Kehrer replace Vladimir Coufal at right-back meaning a back four of the German, Craig Dawson, Aguerd and Cresswell.
The third change will see Moyes and fan favourite Pablo Fornals come back into the side in place of Emerson.
Fornals has dropped out of the team in the last few months of domestic action and was an unused sub against Brentford.
We think Moyes will want his energy, enthusiasm and quality on the ball in a bid to start building a relationship that works alongside Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta in midfield.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Leeds:
Fabianski, Kehrer, Dawson, Aguerd, Cresswell, Rice, Paqueta, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Scamacca.