Leeds United vs West Ham United
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of Friday night Premier League football under the floodlights and that is exactly what we will have this weekend – all we need now is a crowd!
Both Leeds and West Ham tasted Premier League defeat last weekend, yet both contests could have gone in their favour and they are now looking for pre-festive cheer.
Talking Points
Leeds find themselves down in 14th and have been unable to string together back-to-back wins since the opening month of the season, although they have caused problems for most of their opponents, including last time on their travels at Goodison Park.
The fact remains, though, that their Premier League 2020 results have seen them win only one of their last five.
The two players taking many of the plaudits are Kalvin Phillips – fresh from a call-up to the England squad – and Patrick Bamford, who has netted eight goals in his 11 Premier League games this term.
That’s an average goal every 118 minutes, compared to one every 216 in the Championship last term.
West Ham, meanwhile, are eighth and would have been higher but for last Saturday’s defeat which brought an end to their three-match winning streak.
For the Hammers, their main threat Michail Antonio will be missing again this weekend with a hamstring injury, however, the home side should be wary of Jarrod Bowen has who netted a brace for his former club Hull City in a 2-0 win at Elland Road two years ago.
For those of a superstitious nature, the smart money will be on Leeds.
They have never lost a top-flight home game played on a Friday (won three, drawn six), drawing both such games in the Premier League (1-1 v Newcastle in April 1994, 0-0 with Aston Villa in December 2003).
Meanwhile, away from home, West Ham have lost their last three Friday Premier League games without scoring a single goal, with their last such victory coming at Portsmouth in December 2008 (4-1).
That’s on the pitch, but what about the characters off it as the opposing managers could scarcely be more different.
In David Moyes, the Hammers have a pragmatic Scot who provides stability and spent a decade at Everton in which he developed a reputation for shrewdness.
All that disappeared once he replaced (fairly briefly) Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 and his status took another hit after he took Sunderland into the Championship in 2017, since when he has been written off as a tactically clueless dinosaur. It is a strange misreading.
Likewise, the career of his counterpart on Friday night, Marcelo Bielsa, has not exactly been littered with silverware either (although he has more success in his native Argentina), yet his very different approach has been lauded from all corners.
He is unashamedly admired by, among others, Manchester City’s feted boss Pep Guardiola who believes the 64-year-old’s enduring influence upon a generation of players and coaches counts for much more than the three Primera Division titles won in his homeland – the most recent of which came with Velez Sarsfield in 1998.
As well as influencing some of the best coaches in the world, he is widely recognised as getting the best out of his players.
It’s been said, the key to his success is that he not only improves them as footballers, but also as people off the pitch.
Different approaches, different styles, differing strengths.
Who will triumph under the floodlights?
History
This will be the first top-flight meeting between the two clubs since February 2003 when Seth Johnson scored the only goal of the contest at Elland Road.
It’s also their first clash in eight years since they drew 1-1 in the Championship, again at Elland Road, thanks to two goals in the final seven minutes.
On that occasion, Luciano Becchio opened the scoring for the hosts in the 83rd minute only for Danny Collins to grab a last-minute equaliser – West Ham were promoted to the Premier League a few months later and have been there ever since.
Now captain, Mark Noble is the only survivor on either side from that 2012 fixture.
The Hammers last won at Elland Road in 2000 when Nigel Winterburn netted the only goal of the game.
Overall, Leeds have tasted victory on 48 occasions, West Ham have won 27 of the meetings and there have been a further 29 draws.
Betting Tip
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Leeds United vs West Ham United | Leeds United Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.16 |
| December 12, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
Leeds have the edge with the SBOTOP Premier League 2020 betting odds.
They can be backed 1X2 @ 2.16 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.16.
The Hammers are available 1X2 @ 3.15 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.51.
Goals will lead to a decent payday with over 3.25 goals on offer @ 2.38 and total goals 4-6 @ 2.82.
Eight years since their last meeting, an identical outcome – correct score 1-1 – can be backed @ 6.60.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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