Leeds United v West Ham United: YEP Jury give their big match predictions

ANDY RHODES

After a harsh defeat, Leeds will be hoping for a return to winning ways at Elland Road.

United haven’t won at home since September which will frustrate Marcelo Bielsa, especially considering the previous performance against Arsenal.

In a return to the vintage Bielsa of the Championship days, he has already named his side for the game. You might say then that there are no excuses for West Ham. Leeds’ defensive crisis will mean another reshuffle at the back, while Raphinha is now getting a consistent run in the team after impressing.

The makeshift defence will have to be on form to stop a West Ham side that like to share the goals around. No Hammers player has scored more than four this season.

This game marks the start of a run with some very winnable fixtures with the Whites facing three bottom-half sides before the month is out.

Victory here will see Leeds move level with the visitors on points. You would say that these are the games they need to be winning.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 West Ham United 1.

JACOB STARR

David Moyes’ much-improved West Ham are the visitors to Elland Road tonight in what looks to be an unpredictable encounter.

The Hammers had won three on the bounce before surrendering a lead and falling to defeat Manchester United last weekend, but the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals could prove tricky customers.

Marcelo Bielsa has already confirmed Leeds’ starting line up in typical Bielsa-style, which comes with pros and cons.

Rodrigo back in the side may give us that extra quality in the final third that we have been lacking somewhat judging by the number of chances created and amount of goals scored.

However, more defensive injury woes with Robin Koch facing three months out, and his Chelsea replacement Diego Llorente ruled out for the next few matches. Not ideal but, hey ho.

Luke Ayling in at centre-back with Stuart Dallas in at right-back shouldn’t be a problem though, as they have played alongside each other on numerous occasions.

It’s just the inconsistency of a regular back-four which may prove to be an issue.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 West Ham United 1.

MATTHEW EVANS

For all that it matters, we’ve got a reasonable record against West Ham United.

I certainly can’t remember many occasions I’ve seen the Hammers beat us.

And there are very, very few teams I can say that about.

As with many of our opponents this season, West Ham should arrive at Elland Road as favourites.

They’re an established Premier League club, after all, with an experienced manager and a start to the season that they will be relatively happy with.

At Leeds United, we are suffering from more injury woes as it was announced both of the summer-signed centre-halves – German Robin Koch and Spaniard Diego Llorente – will be absent tonight with recurring problems.

Marcleo Bielsa returned to the habit of naming his side in the press conference and, although we’d always be apparently weaker without Robin Koch, the changes do allow Rodrigo back into the side.

I think we’ve got enough about us to squeak a win and pick up another three points.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 West Ham United 1.

KEITH INGHAM

After three tough games against teams you’d expect to be higher than Leeds – even Arsenal – United host West Ham United tonight.

The ‘Hammers’ have had a mixed start to their season but are still in eighth place, three points ahead of their hosts. The games coming up give Leeds the opportunity to get a few points on the board, but none will be ‘easy meat’ and United will have to be at their best to get something from the three games against West Ham, Newcastle and a trip to now Thursday-night Europa Cup-football team Manchester United.

It seems that Pablo Hernandez may have been ostracised by Marcelo Bielsa, or so it seems from the outside. The mercurial Spaniard is rumoured to be training with the Under-23s and not with the first team after his ‘strop’ against Leicester City at Elland Road.

It would be a great shame if this is the way his Leeds career was to end.

I’m pretty confident of a win, but it will be another game that might be won by only the odd goal.

To finish I’d like to mention a fan of WBA who I regularly speak to where I work. He despises the Premier League and can’t wait to be out of it. He says it’s immoral and weighed heavily in favour of the top clubs in it. A feeling, apart from being out of it, I pretty much agree with. There is bias towards them, or so it seems.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 West Ham United 1.

DAVID WATKINS

The way the games are coming now is just rubbing our noses in the fact we can’t go!

After reviving old rivalries against Arsenal and Everton, we now have West Ham under the lights in the lead-up to Christmas; what a night that would have been with a capacity crowd at Elland Road. This is a vital game against another team in our section of the table.

The Premier League is in three parts at the moment: the top seven with the expected big-money names plus Leicester and Saints gate-crashing, the next seven separated by just three points and the bottom six that still includes Arsenal. Both of our next opponents are with us in that middle section and, hence, why points against the Hammers and Newcastle are so vital. West Ham lead that middle group with 17 points and are in useful form having won three of their last four albeit losing at home to Man United last time out.

Marcelo Bielsa has already confirmed that Rodrigo will start but, with both Robin Koch and Diego Llorente out, we’ll need to keep an eye on the likes of Bowen and Fornals.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 West Ham United 1.

MIKE GILL

Apart from impressive successes against Leicester and Wolves, West Ham’s victories have been mainly against teams from the lower reaches of the Premier League.

They have three points more than the Whites but boast a much more impressive goal difference. Like all of David Moyes’ teams, they are usually well organised at the back but still shipped three goals against an improving Manchester United side at the weekend.

All of these facts make this fixture a result that will be difficult to forecast.

As well as needing the points, Leeds need to be scoring a few more goals.

Many people will think that Rodrigo holds the key to this and he gets a start tonight after Marcelo Bielsa named his side on Wednesday.

Another interesting sideshow will be the tussle for the midfield crown between Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice – fascinating!

Prediction: Leeds United 1 West Ham United 0.

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