Leicester vs West Ham: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Despite a potential new manager bounce with Ruud van Nistelrooy, we feel that Leicester’s defensive issues won’t be fixed until they recruit in January. West Ham United will have just enough for the Foxes.

Leicester City are chasing their first win in six and have lost their previous three consecutive games. The Foxes have been woeful defensively, conceding four at the weekend to Brentford and are without a clean sheet in their last seven. The hosts have also been the first to concede in six of their previous seven, with Over 2.5 goals occurring in five of the last seven involving both teams.

The Hammers have a marginally better record away from home, averaging 1.33 points per game on their travels compared to the single point per game at the London Stadium. Goals can be found in this fixture: Over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of the last nine meetings, and both teams have scored in eight of the previous ten.

We predict a 2-1 victory for the Hammers.

Leicester 1-2 West Ham United.

Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his first game as recently appointed Leicester City manager, as the Foxes welcome a West Ham United side who conceded five to Arsenal.

Date: 03/12/2024
Location: The King Power Stadium, Leicester.
Kick-Off: 8.15 pm

The appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy has an obscure historical significance, as the Dutchman recently led Manchester United (caretaker basis) to two consecutive wins over Leicester during his short spell at the Red Devils before the arrival of Ruben Amorim. Van Nistelrooy also has significance where Jamie Vardy is concerned, as Vardy broke Ruud’s scoring record in consecutive Premier League games. Ruud van Nistelrooy had a successful spell as interim manager of Manchester United, with three wins and one draw in four games. Now, he is set to rectify Leicester’s position in the league table.

The former PSV Eindhoven manager takes over the club, with the Foxes in 16th in the Premier League, a point above the relegation zone - with the likes of Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace facing each other on Tuesday. A win for Leicester City in Ruud’s first game in charge would move Leicester potentially above Everton (at the time of writing, they have a game in hand) and within two points of their visitors, West Ham United.

Speaking of the Hammers, their form has perfectly reflected them this season as one of the more inconsistent teams in the Premier League under Julen Lopetegui. West Ham United are sat in 14th in the Premier League this season, six points above the relegation zone and four points off the top ten. The visitors have won four from 13, with two coming away from home. With the summer transfer business conducted by the club, Julen Lopetegui could be utilising more at his disposal.

These two teams last met in the Premier League two seasons ago, before Leicester City’s relegation. The Foxes recorded a league double over the Hammers, scoring twice past their opponents on both occasions.

The game will be available on Amazon Prime Video.

Harry Winks and Ricardo Pereira are expected to miss the trip to Leicester City.

Mohammed Kudus is again available after the forward served his suspension following his dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur.

The recent meetings between the two sides suggest that perhaps Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge of the Foxes could be successful. Leicester City are unbeaten in the last three meetings between the two sides, with the Hammers failing to keep a clean sheet in the previous five meetings between the two sides. Goals can be found in this fixture: Over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of the last nine meetings, and both teams have scored in eight of the previous ten.

Leicester City have been in terrible form, which the new manager must ultimately address. The hosts have lost their previous three in all competitions, remaining winless in their last six and without a clean sheet in seven. For a side that is expected to struggle this season, Leicester City will have to improve their recent home form, which reads one win in six against Bournemouth. Defensively, they have been poor, conceding 1.5 per game whilst maintaining a clean sheet rate of only 17% on home soil.

In their most recent home game, Leicester City lost 2-1 to a Chelsea side, which saw many notable faces return to the King Power, most notably former Enzo Maresca. Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez condemned Steve Cooper to his final game in charge of the Foxes. In their most recent game, Leicester City took an early lead against Brentford through Facundo Buonanotte. However, three goals from Kevin Schade and a goal from Yoane Wissa secured a 4-1 win for the Bees.

As for the Hammers, Julen Lopetegui’s side boasts a superior record away from home, than on home soil. West Ham, as mentioned, have recorded 1.33 points per game away from home compared to one point per game at the London Stadium. Defensively, the visitors have conceded 1.5 goals per game on their travels whilst keeping a somewhat respectable 33% clean sheet rate, compared to the 2.17 goals conceded at home.

In their most recent away game, West Ham United arguably produced their best performance of the season by beating Newcastle United at home. Tomas Soucek scored a brilliant header from a set-piece in the first half, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka provided something of a collector’s item by scoring his first West Ham United goal. Their most recent game, though, was sobering for West Ham fans as they succumbed to a 5-2 defeat at home to Arsenal.