Premier League: West Ham can do double over lacklustre Leicester

One of West Ham’s strongest performances of the season came back in August, when they ran out 4-1 winners against Leicester City.

If anything the scoreline that night flattered the Foxes. West Ham were sharp and incisive with their passing and aggressive in closing down their opponents.

It was a statement of intent from a team which wanted to prove that last season’s Champions League challenge was not a fluke.

Fast forward six months and Leicester have still not resolved the defensive problems that afflicted them on that August evening in east London. A 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Thursday means Leicester have now shipped 39 goals this term - the sixth-worst tally in the division.

Brendan Rodgers is under pressure and his players will be low on confidence going into the weekend. West Ham are a smart side and they will look to take advantage of what is sure to be an anxious mood at the King Power Stadium. Our traders price an away win at 2.5, and that looks like good value.

Jarrod Bowen in form of his life

Michail Antonio was the star of the show in the first meeting between these sides this season. He notched a brace as West Ham put Leicester to the sword, and by the end of September he had scored five goals in his first six appearances of the campaign.

More recently Jarrod Bowen has taken over the goalscoring mantle in David Moyes’ side. Bowen only got off the mark in West Ham’s seventh outing of 2021/22 but he has barely looked back since, finding the net seven times and providing as many assists.

Bowen is in the form of his life and it is no surprise that Liverpool have been linked with him. At odds of 8, it is worth a punt on the former Hull man breaking the deadlock on Sunday.

Expect a fast start at the King Power Stadium

Leicester are likely to take the game to West Ham in the early stages. Rodgers is a proactive manager who wants his teams to play on the front foot, but that could actually play into West Ham’s hands.

The likes of Bowen and Antonio thrive in open spaces and a counter-attacking approach will suit the Hammers down to the ground.

Leicester’s aforementioned defensive deficiencies mean many of their matches this term have been high-scoring. Six of their last 10 Premier League encounters have featured at least two goals in the first half, as did their FA Cup games against Watford and Nottingham Forest.

In six of their last seven league wins, West Ham have found the net in the opening 45 minutes. We could be in store for an entertaining first half on Sunday, so consider backing over 1.5 goals before half-time at 2.5.

Recommended bets

West Ham to win at 2.5

Jarrod Bowen to score first at 8

Over 1.5 goals in the first half at 2.5