West Ham United vs Leeds Predictions

• Leeds have lost four of their last five games, including a defeat at West Ham last weekend
• The visitors have lost all of their clashes with the top seven, conceding 26 goals
• West Ham have won their last four, scoring 11 times
• Jarrod Bowen has scored three goals across his last two games

Return trip for Leeds

West Ham beat Leeds 2-0 in the FA Cup last weekend, easing into the Fourth Round. Just seven days later Marcelo Bielsa and co. return to the capital, but the visitors’ struggles are likely to continue.

This has been a season to forget for Leeds, while things haven’t been going well lately. They’ve lost four of their last five games, while the visitors have been beaten in six of their previous eight trips. Considering that run, a visit to fourth-placed West Ham isn’t likely to end well.

Hammers on a roll

West Ham head into this one on the back of an excellent run, which has seen them win each of their last four. The hosts have won 2-0 in back-to-back matches this week after seeing off Norwich in midweek, putting them back into the Champions League spots.

The hosts have bounced back after a tough end to 2021 and this run to kick-off the New Year shows they are going to be European contenders once again. They head into this match having scored 11 times during that four-match run, while they’ve comfortably dispatched the league’s poorest sides.

West Ham are flying high thanks to a return of 19 points from a possible 21 against the bottom seven. That’s expected from a top four contender, but it’s notable that they’ve won five out six away games in that run.

Bowen to fire hosts to victory

David Moyes has been signing the praises of Jarrod Bowen of late thanks to his vital role in their winning run. The winger has chipped in with three goals and two assists in this four-game winning run, with those three goals coming in their last two.

Expect Bowen to be back in form against one of the poorest defences in the league. Leeds have shipped 37 goals so far this term, the third-highest in the division. They’re particularly leaky against the better sides, shipping 26 goals across seven meetings with the top seven, losing all of them.

West Ham look by far the stronger side in this clash and they are worth backing for the victory. Given the gulf in class I wouldn’t put anyone off backing West Ham with a handicap here, but I’m keeping it simple by tipping the home win alongside Bowen to score. With the hosts in form and given Leeds’ defensive record against the top sides 3-0 is my correct score prediction.

West Ham predicted lineup: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Bowen, Fornals, Rice, Lanzini, Masuaku; Antonio

Leeds predicted lineup: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; Forshaw, Dallas, Raphinha, Klich, Harrison, Bamford