West Ham United host relegation-battling Leicester City at the London Stadium, looking to build on their remarkable London derby win against Arsenal.
Graham Potter’s side put in an assured display against the Gunners and were rewarded for their bravery and positive attitude with a narrow 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen was the match-winner for the Hammers, heading home a sublime cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the stroke of half time.
After picking up just one point from their last four Premier League games, the stars finally aligned for Potter’s side as Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for a professional last-man tackle late in the game.
West Ham capitalised on their numerical advantage to collect three points, and Potter will be hoping the result can spark a much-needed resurgence.
The Hammers have proven they have what it takes to push through adversity, and Potter will demand more of the same from his side on Thursday night.
Fortunately for him, his side came through the Arsenal game unscathed, so there are no fresh injury concerns to worry about.
How West Ham could line up vs Leicester
West Ham are still without injured duo Lucas Paqueta and Vladimir Coufal.
Paqueta is battling an ankle injury, while Coufal missed West Ham’s last two games with a hamstring issue, although he could return to face Newcastle United next week.
“Both are progressing,” Potter said of Paqueta and Coufal at his pre-Leicester press conference on Tuesday. “Both won’t make the squad on Thursday but are making progress.
“Vladi, [there is] certainly a chance for Newcastle. Lucas, we’ll just have to see how he responds. But certainly for Leicester, no.”
Along with Paqueta and Coufal, West Ham will also be without Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, and Michail Antonio.
Potter lined up with a back five against Arsenal.
He may see no reason to tweak a winning team but could switch to a more attacking system against a struggling Leicester side.
The most likely tweak would be for Aaron Cresswell to drop out for the ‘phenomenal‘ Evan Ferguson, who could be handed his first West Ham start.
Predicted West Ham XI:
(4-3-3): Alphonse Areola; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Oliver Scarles; Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse; Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Evan Ferguson.