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West Ham welcome Leeds United to London Stadium in a crunch televised Super Sunday clash affecting both ends of Premier League table.
Victory will see West Ham stay fourth and move to potentially within two points of third-placed Liverpool if the Reds lose elsewhere.
Leeds meanwhile can climb above Everton into 15th with at least one point.
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Tomas Soucek is a doubt for West Ham after missing their midweek league win over Norwich through illness.
Mark Noble (knee) is also a doubt but Kurt Zouma (hamstring), Said Benrahma (international duty), Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and Ryan Fredericks (unspecified) won’t be available.
Leeds could welcome Rodrigo back from a calf injury.
Pascal Struijk (foot), Patrick Bamford (hip) and Junior Firpo (head) are doubts
Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips (both hamstring), Jamie Shackleton (Achilles), Diego Llorente (suspension), Tyler Roberts (calf), Joe Gelhardt (ankle) and Charlie Cresswell (shoulder) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- West Ham have won three of their last eight Premier League meetings against Leeds (W3, D1, L4).
- Leeds have won just one of their last six away visits to West Ham in all competitions (W1, D3, L2).
- West Ham have scored twice in each of their last three home clashes against Leeds in all competitions, including 2-0 in their only two clashes at the London Stadium
- Three of Jarrod Bowen’s five league goals for West Ham this season were scored on his left foot.
- No Leeds player this season has lost more aerial battles in the league than Liam Cooper, who has lost 32 aerial battles in 15 league appearances but is currently out injured.
Prediction
After knocking Leeds out of the FA Cup last Sunday afternoon in a disciplined pressing display, West Ham were even more impressive in their midweek victory over Norwich because they simply dominated without any real challenge with neat passing moves and finishing.
Leeds though will of learned something from their defeat last weekend in which they fought hard until the end and after watching the Hammers in midweek, Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites should look to impose a pressing counter-attack and constantly hassle their hosts when off the ball.
Now if Leeds can do that and take their chances then this should be a close battle otherwise I can see West Ham continuing their improved momentum.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Leeds
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