West Ham United head to Leeds United on Saturday as they aim to build on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory at Manchester United back in the Premier League.
Manuel Lanzini’s goal gave David Moyes’ much-changed Hammers the win at Old Trafford, and ensured last Sunday’s last-gasp 2-1 loss to the same opponents would not see their momentum stall.
With three clean sheets in four games this month, the Hammers are in good form heading into their contest in Yorkshire.
September is a busy month for the Londoners, with assignments both in Europe and the Carabao Cup already navigated alongside their league commitments.
And with a home meeting with Rapid Vienna following this game at Leeds on Thursday, there is no let-up for the Hammers.
They will be relishing each match as it comes, though, as will the 3,000 Hammers fans set to head to Elland Road on Saturday.
How to follow
Saturday’s kick-off is at 3pm, and this game will not be broadcast live in the UK. If you live overseas you might be able to watch the game live, however. Click here for broadcast listings in your territory.
We will also be covering the game live with a blog and audio commentary on whufc.com and our Official App and across our social media channels, with goals, highlights and exclusive reaction to follow after the final whistle.
Team News
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, David Moyes issued an update on the fitness status of defender Ryan Fredericks.
The right-back made his second start of the season in the Carabao Cup third round win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
In the immediate aftermath of the move which led to Fredericks sprinting past a defender and laying on the assist for Manuel Lanzini’s winning goal, however, the full-back appeared to feel his groin, departing the field eight minutes later to be replaced by Vladimír Coufal.
Moyes confirmed that Fredericks will play no part at Elland Road and will require further assessment in the days to come.
Otherwise, though, the boss has a full squad to choose from and will have some selection dilemmas after fine performances from the players who came into the side at Old Trafford.
The opposition
Leeds United enjoyed a fine return to the Premier League in 2020/21.
Under enigmatic, almost mythical manager Marcelo Bielsa, the Peacocks soared from the Championship to the upper half of the Premier League, playing a brand of entertaining, buccaneering football that it is impossible to take your eyes off.
Bielsa does not appear to care who his team is playing against, or how good they are, he will send his players out to run harder and farther than the opposition and hope they find the net enough times to outscore the opposition.
It is not a formula that always works out, far from it, but it is certainly good to watch for Leeds supporters and the neutral alike.
The Elland Road side ended the campaign ninth in the table, winning their final four games of the season to claim 59 points in total, six fewer than the Hammers in sixth.
Their start to the current campaign hasn’t been quite as good, with three draws and two defeats from their opening five matches – but David Moyes and the Hammers will be well aware of Leeds’ pedigree and will expect a tough match.
Like West Ham, Bielsa’s team also made progress in the Carabao Cup in midweek, defeating Fulham 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.
Previous meetings
The Hammers did the double over Leeds United last season in their first Premier League meetings since the 2002/03 campaign.
West Ham were relegated at the end of that season and were followed into the second tier by Leeds a year later.
The pair met twice in the Championship in 2004/05, drawing 1-1 at the Boleyn Ground and Leeds winning 2-1 at Elland Road, and twice more in 2011/12 drawing 2-2 in east London and 1-1 in Yorkshire.
Last year though, West Ham took maximum points over Marcelo Bielsa’s men, winning 2-1 at Elland Road and 2-0 at home.
Leeds also hold the overall edge in Premier League matches between the two sides, winning 14 of the 22 meetings in the competition, with four draws and four West Ham victories.
David Moyes has faced Leeds seven times as a manager with Everton and West Ham, winning five, including his only two previous matchups with Marcelo Bielsa, drawing one and losing just one.
Match Officials
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistant Referees: Adrian Holmes and Derek Eaton
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
VAR: Andre Marriner
Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin
Saturday's match referee will be Kevin Friend.
Born in Bristol but brought up and now based in Leicester, Friend celebrated his 50th birthday in July.
After working his way up through the Leicestershire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance, Friend joined the National List and then the Select Group of Premier League referees in 2009.
He has since taken charge of a host of high-profile matches, including the 2012 FA Community Shield, 2013 League Cup final and 2019 FA Cup final, all of which were held at Wembley Stadium.
Friend has refereed West Ham United on 23 occasions previously, with the first being the 5-0 Championship win over Plymouth Argyle at the Boleyn Ground in February 2005.
His first Premier League appointment involving the Hammers was a 0-0 home draw with Blackpool in November 2010.