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The Scout: EPL Week 16 Preview

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West Ham United v Leicester City

Things have not gone as well as expected in the Premier League for West Ham United, who go into this match below Leicester City, albeit on goal difference.

This is the same Leicester City who failed to win any of their first seven Premier League games, and whose manager, Brendan Rodgers, was on shaky ground.

Four wins and a draw in their past seven matches has lifted Leicester to 14th (two points off third bottom Southampton) and is firm evidence of their progress since those dark, early days.

By comparison, West Ham’s spluttering Premier League form has been masked by a series of eight straight wins in the Europa Conference League. But breezing through inferior opponents in a third-tier European competition during the week is hardly great preparation for the weekend pressure of Premier League matches.

The Hammers have won only one of their past five Premier League games, which has dragged them dangerously close to the bottom three.

Defensively sound – they’ve only conceded 15 goals – their problem is in the attacking third with only 12 goals in their 14 games.

On paper, at least, West Ham look capable of creating problems for opposing defences with players like Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma, Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio to lean on. But despite having 20 goals between them, only eight have been scored in the Premier League.

Having climbed from the foot of the table, Leicester are in a groove of sorts now. James Maddison has been in wonderful form, Youri Tielemans has been scoring screamers and they have tightened up considerably at the back. They have kept clean sheets in four of their most recent five matches with only Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne having breached their defence.

Home ground advantage swings this one towards West Ham but an upset could be on the cards.

Suggested Bet: Leicester to win @ $3.60*

Tottenham v Leeds

What to make of Tottenham Hotspur? We know they can score goals. They hit six past Leicester, four past Southampton and three against Bournemouth. But when it comes to playing the top teams, they haven’t been able to conjure a win, despite sitting fourth. They’ve drawn with Chelsea and lost to Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United and, most recently, Liverpool.

For all the recent excitement around Leeds – they beat Liverpool and Bournemouth in thrilling fashion – they are not what anyone could call a top team. At Elland Road, there is a sense of inevitability about a coming relegation battle. For now, though, there is reason for some optimism.

Dutch midfielder Crysencio Summerville scored late winners in both Leeds’ recent victories, which has lifted them three points above the bottom three, while manager Jesse Marsch demands an energetic approach that has been typified by recent substitute appearances from Wilfried Gnonto.

Leeds might also be facing Tottenham at just the right time, with the potential distraction of a World Cup rapidly coming into focus for the likes of Harry Kane, the loss to Liverpool and the absence of Son Heung-min, who had facial surgery and missed the Reds’ clash.

But before we get carried away, let’s go back to what we know about Spurs. Against mid-table opposition, they score goals and tend to get the job done.

If Leeds are to go into the World Cup break with another positive result, they will need more than frenetic energy from Marsch’s willing men.

Suggested Bet: Tottenham to win @ $1.60*

Newcastle v Chelsea

Graham Potter is aiming to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat heading into the World Cup break as seventh-placed Chelsea travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United, who are third.

The former Brighton manager, whose Chelsea spell started with nine games without defeat, has now witnessed successive losses against his old club (4-1) and Arsenal (1-0).

On current form, he could hardly have picked a more difficult fixture with free-scoring Newcastle also the equal best defensive team in the competition.

Potter has been dealt a tricky hand with injuries to three of his back four – Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Ben Chilwell – while N’Golo Kante was already out of action when Potter got the job.

But while that has forced defensive changes, it was the lack of goal threat that cost them against Arsenal. Just one shot on target at Stamford Bridge was not exactly what the home fans expected.

Of the teams in the top 10, only Crystal Palace (15 goals) have scored fewer than Chelsea’s 17, and Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling are joint leading scorers for the club with three goals.

Potter’s impact at Brighton suggests it’s only a matter of time, and returning players, before he starts to stamp his mark at Chelsea.

But time will not be on his side against Newcastle, a club in a hurry to make an impact on the Premier League.

Beaten just once in 14 games (by Liverpool), Newcastle have drawn 3-3 with champions Manchester City, 0-0 with Manchester United and won 2-1 against Tottenham.

They also crushed Fulham (4-1), Bournemouth (5-1), Aston Villa (4-0) and Southampton (4-1), a result which confirmed the end of manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s tenure.

Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes has been excellent in midfield while Paraguayan Miguel Almiron has hit top form with eight goals, two more than main front man Callum Wilson.

Suggested Bet: Newcastle to win @ $2.38*

*Odds correct as at 3pm, 9th November 2022.

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