West Ham United vs Leeds United verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- George Dempsey
- 20 May 2023
West Ham United are effectively safe but visitors Leeds United could need as many as six points for Premier League survival.
Following their Europa Conference League heroics, West Ham return to domestic duties as they prepare to host a desperate Leeds United side.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Sunday May 21, Kick-off 1:30pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event
Predicted score
Suggested bets
Over 2.5 goals and both teams tscore
Key stats
West Ham have scored in 12 consecutive home matches, while Leeds are on a run of scoring in 11 consecutive games both home and away.
Both sides have found the net in eight of their last nine league meetings, drawing 2-2 earlier this season.
Despite having a poor record in London, Leeds have lost just one of their last nine league visits to either Upton Park or the London Stadium.
Jack Harrison scored the only hattrick of his career as Leeds ran out 3-2 winners here last season.
West Ham United vs Leeds United team news
Gianluca Scamacca (knee) is likely to miss the remainder of the season for West Ham.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see David Moyes rotate to rest key players. The Hammers will preserve the integrity of the competition, but Flynn Downes and Ben Johnson could feature again.
Leeds are without several important players in Tyler Adams (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (ankle) and Stuart Dallas (thigh). Liam Cooper (groin) and Marc Roca (knee) could return, but Junior Firpo is suspended.
Verdict
West Ham could mathematically secure their Premier League status with a point, although defeat for Nottingham Forest and Everton drawing or losing over the weekend would do the job for them.
Leeds United are in a much more desperate situation. Despite a much-improved performance against Newcastle, the Whites will feel they should have won. They may need six points to survive.
West Ham have enjoyed home comforts against struggling sides this season. At the London Stadium, they've won five of six matches against the bottom eight sides, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories.
Leeds United's form reads five defeats and two draws in their last seven matches. Despite that, Big Sam has offered some reason for optimism. A 2-1 defeat at Man City followed by a 2-2 draw with Newcastle showed improvement.
Against Newcastle in particular, Leeds should have led 2-0 and on the evidence of how well they limited Newcastle from open play, might have won the game.
The Hammers have endured a frustrating Premier League season, but they've been unstoppable in Europe. Their midweek win over AZ Alkmaar was their 12th in 13 European contests.
This stage of the season tends to produce unlikely results. The emotional comedown from such a historic night, coupled with the Irons being effectively safe and having a European final to look forward to, could be a factor
Last season saw Leeds win away to Brentford to secure survival on the final day. The Whites are one of just three teams to win there in 25 matches and no one saw that coming.
They'll have a hard time keeping West Ham out, as the Hammers have scored in their last 12 home matches and tend to find the net in this fixture. Both teams have scored in nine of 10 league meetings.
It's now or never for Big Sam's side and the next two weekends will produce surprise results, so we think Leeds are worth a small bet on the weekend, with our main advice being back both teams to score or over 2.5 goals.
