Premier League: Foxes Bid for Four in a Row

Leicester City vs West Ham United

One team hits five goals at a Premier League fortress last weekend; another has four put past them in the League Cup in midweek.

No wonder the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds strongly back 2016 champions Leicester for Sunday lunchtime joy.

I do too, but it’s not that straightforward. It rarely is!

 

Talking Points

For a start West Ham hit four of their own last week in a comprehensive victory over Wolves.

Fast forward three days and their fragilities were again laid bare for all to see in midweek, a 4-1 League Cup defeat at Everton – so which side of the Hammers will we see in the East Midlands?

Whether the team is led by manager David Moyes or his number two Alan Irvine remains to be seen.

Moyes has been self-isolating after a positive coronavirus test and has relayed instructions via Irvine during the past two matches.

Statistically, whether Moyes makes it or not could prove irrelevant. That’s because West Ham have only won four of their 23 away league games under the Scot.

More so, their only victory in the past 11 Premier League meetings against Leicester was 2-0 at the King Power Stadium in May 2018.

One man definitely out for the visitors is Ryan Fredericks who sustained a hamstring strain against Wolves.

Issa Diop and Josh Cullen are doubts but Jarrod Bowen will likely keep his place in the starting XI after scoring twice last weekend, while the talented Michail Antonio should start up front ahead of Sebastian Haller.

Leicester will monitor midfielder Dennis Praet, who was forced off last weekend with a twisted knee.

 

The star of that win, Jamie Vardy, and central defender Jonny Evans were also substituted with minor fitness issues but both are fit, while new recruit from Roma, Cengiz Under, is available to make his debut.

With match-winners on both sides, I do expect Premier League highlights as the Foxes bid to win their opening four league games for the first time in their history.

Their total of 12 goals after three matches is the highest by any team at this stage of a Premier League season since 2012.

After adjusting his tactics last week to earn that remarkable win at Manchester City, manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to revert to a more familiar formation. That may lead to a first start of the season for James Maddison, whose performance off the bench in that encounter suggested he has regained all his sharpness.

 

History

Last season Leicester completed a league double over the Hammers – a quickfire double with both matches played in the space of under a month.

At Christmas, the Foxes won 2-1 at the London Stadium, courtesy of goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray, then they ran out 4-1 winners at home in January when two goals from Harvey Barnes and Ricardo Pereira put the hosts in front.

Mark Noble pulled one back from the penalty spot before two late goals from Ayoze Perez put a one-sided slant on the scoreline.

West Ham have only beaten Leicester once in their past 12 matches (11 Premier League, one League Cup).

That came in 2018 when Joao Mario and Noble were the marksmen in a 2-0 success – their first win at Leicester in the Premier League since a 3-1 win at Filbert Street in January 2000.

West Ham did manage a league double over them in the Championship in 2011-12.

Overall, Leicester have 49 triumphs in all competitions, West Ham have won on 52 occasions and there have been 33 draws.

 

Betting Tip

	Leicester City vs West Ham United	Leicester City Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.93
	October 04, 19:00 (GMT+8)

Leicester 1X2 @ 1.69 contrasts with West Ham 1X2 @ 4.50, with the 1X2 draw not much different @ 3.90.

Asian Handicap odds back the hosts to prevail -0.50 @ 1.69 and -1.00 @ 2.20, with the Hammers on offer +0.75 @ 2.00 and +0.50 @ 2.31.

Double Chance West Ham or Draw is available @ 2.08, while a repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture – correct score 4-1 – is on offer @ 26.00.

A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR () BETS ARE WORTH:
= €20 (Highly confident)	= €10 (CONFIDENT)	= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

 

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