West Ham United boss David Moyes looks set to make one big change and switch formation for tonight’s crunch clash with Leeds United.
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West Ham won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Elland Road.
But the scoreline does not tell the whole story as West Ham could and should have been out of sight in a game they dominated.
Hammers will go fifth with game in hand if they beat Leeds
The Hammers will go fifth with a win as whatever the result in the Chelsea vs Everton game means one of the Blues will occupy fourth spot.
Crucially, though, West Ham will have a game in hand on Chelsea the top three teams.
West Ham were desperately unfortunate not to come away from Man City with a result last time out.
Moyes’s side lost 2-1 but were deserving of a draw.
Key to beating Leeds the last time the two sides met was West Ham’s ability to negate the high-energy press of Marcelo Bisela’s swashbuckling side.
Moyes to make one big change and switch formation for Leeds
In doing so West Ham’s attackers had a free run at the Leeds defence on several occasions.
West Ham had an off-colour Sebastien Haller up front that night. So if they can do the same again at the London Stadium then Michail Antonio and Premier League player of the month Jesse Lingard will be licking their lips.
West Ham went with a wingback formation against the might of Man City in the last game.
But Moyes will revert to a four at the back and make one big change to the side as a result.
Ben Johnson will drop out and Said Benrahma – who was key to beating the Leeds press in the previous fixture – looks set to come in for a rare start.
Pablo Fornals had an excellent game against City.
And the Spaniard will keep his place, probably operating off the left side.
Benrahma in floating role again to beat Bielsa press but this time Lingard and Antonio on hand to take advantage
Benrahma will play a floating role more centrally where he can beat the press on the turn and open Leeds up as he did so effectively before.
Lingard will play off Antonio with Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice sitting.
It means Jarrod Bowen – whose form has dipped a touch as he played on through illness – will have to make do with a place on the West Ham bench.
Lukasz Fabianski faces a late fitness test. But the Hammers number one is expected to make it after resuming full training on Friday.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Leeds:
Fabianski, Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Benrahma, Lingard, Antonio.
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