Leeds United and West Ham kick off Matchday 9 of the Premier League on Friday night in a clash that already feels crucial at the wrong end of the table. The Peacocks will be eager to snap a two-game losing streak and rebuild confidence in front of their home fans, while the Hammers are still searching for their first win under Nuno Espírito Santo after a nightmare start to the campaign. Here are my thoughts along with a suggested bet.
Looking at the outright Premier League betting ahead of Friday’s clash, Arsenal remain firm favourites at 4/5, with Manchester City close behind at 13/4. Liverpool have drifted slightly to 4/1 following their recent dip in form, while Chelsea are trading around 20/1. Further down the board, the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United can all be backed at 50/1 or greater.
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LEEDS UNITED v WEST HAM – Click here to bet
Leeds come into the new round sitting 16th in the standings with eight points from eight games, just three positions ahead of their visitors. Daniel Farke’s men were well beaten 2-0 by Burnley last weekend, their second straight defeat, and it’s now four games without a win in all competitions. Since returning to the top flight, defensive frailty has been a recurring theme and they’ve managed just two clean sheets all season and none in their last five league outings.
Going forward, Leeds have looked lively in patches but remain wasteful in front of goal, scoring seven and conceding 13 overall. At home, the story hasn’t been much better as just one win from four at Elland Road and only five points from a possible 15 (W1 D2 L2). Their last home victory came way back in their opening fixture against Everton, and since then, inconsistency has crept in. The crowd will expect a reaction here, especially against a West Ham side who look there for the taking.
For West Ham, things continue to spiral. Monday night’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford made it four straight home losses and left them stuck in 19th place with just four points from eight games. It’s been a torrid start for Nuno Espírito Santo, whose arrival has yet to spark any real improvement. The atmosphere turned toxic after the Brentford loss, boos echoing around the London Stadium as frustration boiled over. Nuno has admitted there’s a serious problem to solve, and the numbers back him up. The Hammers are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season, having conceded 18 goals while scoring just six, comfortably the worst defensive record in the league.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that West Ham’s away form has been slightly less disastrous. They’ve picked up four points from four on the road (W1 D1 L2) and conceded only six, far better than the 12 shipped at home. Their last away trip ended in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, but there were signs of improvement in their shape and discipline, perhaps small steps in the right direction.
Head-to-Head
The sides last met in the 2022/23 Premier League season, when West Ham took four points from six, drawing 2-2 at Elland Road before winning 3-1 in the reverse fixture in London.
Betting
Leeds United 87/100
Draw 5/2
West Ham 13/4
Verdict
It’s tough to make a convincing case for either side right now. Leeds are unconvincing at home and leaking goals too easily, while West Ham are struggling for identity under Nuno and can’t buy a win. Leeds’ energy and home crowd might give them the edge, but with both teams vulnerable defensively and low on confidence, this feels like the kind of match that could easily fizzle into a scrappy stalemate. Don’t expect a classic as this might be more about avoiding defeat than chasing victory.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes at 87/100
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
