Leicester City face West Ham United this weekend and they will look to bounce back after their recent run. The Foxes have lost back to back games and a win could be imperative in maintaining their mid-table status in the Premier League standings.
West Ham are also experiencing a cold-streak, having lost their last two games that includes a narrow defeat to Tottenham last weekend. However, with a long-running injury list, the Hammers could be happy with a point against Leicester.
Here are three key battles that could shape the outcome of the highly-anticipated clash:
#3 Jamie Vardy vs Fabian Balbuena
Jamie Vardy hasn’t had the best of starts in the league this season, having missed two games through suspension earlier in the campaign. The former England international has also scored only three goals in seven matches. However, he remains Leicester’s biggest threat in the final third and will be looking to impress against West Ham this weekend
His sheer pace coupled with his aggression and work-ethic have caused a few problems to the Premier League defences in recent years and it’s only natural to think that he could test a shaky Hammers defence on Saturday.
He will be coming up against Fabian Balbuena. The Paraguayan international has adapted fairly well to the rigours of English football despite a tough start and has become a key component in the West Ham backline.
Only Etienne Capoue has managed more interceptions than Balbuena in the league this season while his tally of 65 clearances is second only to Bournemouth’s Steve Cook.
Therefore, his doggedness in defence coupled with his excellent sense of positioning could be the ideal antidote to Vardy’s raw pace in the final third, making it one of the most exciting personal duels in this high-octane clash.
#2 Wilfred Ndidi vs Mark Noble
West Ham United will miss out on the services of no less than three key midfielders this weekend with Pedro Obiang, Jack Wilshere, and Carlos Sancho all sidelined. The lack of midfield strength could serve as a golden opportunity for Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi to dominate the West Ham midfield as the Foxes will look to claim all three points at the King Power Stadium.
Therefore, Mark Noble remains the only reliable central midfielder for the Hammers this weekend, aside from Declan Rice, who has impressed as a defensive midfielder this season.
Noble has an ample amount of experience in the English top flight and his proficiency in circulating possession often comes in handy for the West London giants.
However, it will be interesting to see how he copes with the pressure of dealing with the aggressive Ndidi, who is known for his ball recovery largely thanks to his aggressive style of play.
#1 Jonny Evans vs Marko Arnautovic
With Andy Carroll and Andriy Yarmolenko ruled out, West Ham could be forced into playing Javier Hernandez as their striker this weekend which in turn will mean that Arnautovic will return to the right-wing position.
The Austrian international provides the attacking spark to West Ham and has already plundered four goals in eight matches. Although he needs to improve his conversion rate, having attempted 26 shots in the league so far, his movement could cause Leicester a few problems.
The onus will be on Jonny Evans to stop the former Stoke City superstar from making inroads in the final third. Evans will be deputising for the suspended Wes Morgan and a solid defensive performance against the tricky Arnautovic could shape the outcome of the game.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored