West Ham are riding high after their impressive 1-0 victory at Arsenal last weekend, which ended a frustrating four-match winless run.
While the Hammers still find themselves near the bottom of the Premier League table, the result in North London has been a massive boost. It moved them 13 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of this round, easing any lingering fears of being dragged into a battle for survival. With that win under their belts, West Ham will be hoping to build on the momentum and extend their positive form.
On Thursday night, Graham Potter’s side has the opportunity to create even more distance between themselves and the teams below them when they host Leicester. West Ham has had a strong record against promoted sides, winning 11 of their last 14 Premier League encounters with such teams, and losing only once. However, their sole defeat came in the reverse fixture against Leicester back in December, and the Hammers’ vulnerability at home is also evident. Despite their overall positive record, they have already suffered seven defeats at the London Stadium this season, alongside four wins and two draws.
Leicester, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle. Their 3-1 victory over West Ham in early December remains one of the few bright spots in what has been a difficult season. Since that win, Leicester has picked up just four points from a possible 36, with one win, one draw, and 10 losses. The Foxes are now five points adrift of safety and look increasingly likely to return to the Championship after a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford last Friday. The result highlighted the immense struggles Leicester has faced throughout the season.
One of Leicester’s biggest challenges has been their leaky defense, which has conceded a staggering 59 goals ahead of this round. Only bottom-of-the-table Southampton has shipped more goals in the Premier League. The Foxes have allowed 2 or more goals in 20 of their league matches this season, with 11 of those coming since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge. While the Dutch manager has had some success in other areas, his impact on Leicester’s defensive solidity has been minimal, making it clear that fixing their backline will be essential if they are to stand any chance of survival.
For West Ham, the key to success in this game will be to exploit Leicester’s defensive frailties. Aaron Wan-Bissaka will play a crucial role, especially given his record in home matches against Leicester. The right-back has won all three of his career home H2H matches against the Foxes without conceding a single goal. Furthermore, his assist for Jarrod Bowen’s winner at Arsenal will give him added confidence going into this encounter. West Ham will need his defensive solidity and his ability to contribute going forward to continue their recent form.
Leicester, however, will be hoping to find some inspiration from their loanee, Facundo Buonanotte. While the young midfielder has struggled to make a significant impact, he has managed to collect six of his seven yellow cards this season after the 60th minute, which suggests a tendency for late challenges and moments of recklessness. Whether he can step up and provide some creativity or energy in the final third remains to be seen, but Leicester will certainly need more from him if they are to turn their season around.
Looking at the numbers, Leicester’s issues at both ends of the pitch have been well-documented. One particularly troubling stat is their concession of 14 goals between the 16th and 30th minute of matches, the highest in the Premier League. Two of those goals came in their heavy defeat to Brentford, underscoring their tendency to concede at critical points in games. West Ham will be keen to take advantage of these moments, particularly with their attacking options in form.
This match presents a real opportunity for West Ham to strengthen their position in the league, but Leicester will be desperate for points. Their fragile defense and the lack of a consistent attacking threat have left them in a precarious situation. For West Ham, building on their recent victory and continuing their good run against promoted sides will be key to securing another valuable three points. As for Leicester, they must find a way to stop the bleeding and show resilience if they are to have any hope of avoiding relegation. The stage is set for an intriguing encounter, with both sides under pressure in different ways.
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
World Time Zones
| Europe | GMT |
 London | 20:00 |
| Edinburgh | 20:00 |
 Madrid | 21:00 |
 Lisbon | 20:00 |
 Berlin | 21:00 |
 Paris | 21:00 |
 Amsterdam | 21:00 |
 Rome | 21:00 |
 Belgrade | 21:00 |
 Sofia | 22:00 |
 Warshaw | 21:00 |
 Tirana | 21:00 |
 Istanbul | 22:00 |
 Kyiv | 22:00 |
 Moscow | 22:00 |
| North America | GMT |
 New York, New York City | 15:00 |
| Texas, Dallas | 14:00 |
| Utah, Salt Lake City | 13:00 |
| California, Santa Clara | 12:00 |
| Alaska, Anchorage | 11:00 |
 St. John’s | 17:00 |
| Halifax | 16:00 |
| Toronto | 15:00 |
| Winnipeg | 14:00 |
| Edmonton | 13:00 |
| Vancouver | 12:00 |
 Mexico City | 13:00 |
| South America | GMT |
 Sao Paulo | 16:00 |
 La Paz | 15:00 |
 Lima | 14:00 |
| Australia | GMT |
 Perth | 03:00 |
| Eucla | 03:45 |
| Darwin | 04:30 |
| Adelaide | 04:30 |
| Brisbane | 05:00 |
| Sydney | 05:00 |
| Asia | GMT |
 Mecca | 22:00 |
 Kabul | 23:30 |
 Karachi | 00:00 |
 New Dehli | 00:30 |
 Dhaka | 01:00 |
 Jakarta | 02:00 |
 Singapore | 03:00 |
 Kuala Lumpur | 03:00 |
| Africa | GMT |
 Accra | 19:00 |
 Porto Novo | 20:00 |
 Casablanca | 20:00 |
 Johannesburg | 21:00 |
 Cairo | 22:00 |
 Nairobi | 22:00 |
Where to watch West Ham vs Leicester Live Stream and, on Satellite TV?
beIN Sports MENA English 1 (Gbr),
Sky Sport Premier League (Ger),
Sky Sport Premier League (Nzl),
Sky Sport Premier League (Sui),
SuperSport Premier League (Afr),
SuperSport Premier League (Nga),
SuperSport Premier League (Rsa),
TNT Sports Digital Exclusive (Gbr),
True Premier Football 1 (Tha),
True Premier Football 2 (Tha),
