West Ham vs Leicester Prediction: Easy win for the Irons in east London

Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a winning start to life as Leicester City boss, beating West Ham United 3-1 at the King Power Stadium on December 3, but it's been pretty much downhill ever since. The Foxes have won just one Premier League game since that victory over the Irons and they head into Thursday night's reverse fixture at the London Stadium (20:00, TNT Sports 1) on the back of four straight defeats in the competition (10 in their last 11).

West Ham, meanwhile, are in a buoyant mood after derailing Arsenal's title challenge last Saturday, beating the Gunners 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium to extend the gap to 17th-placed Wolves to eight points. Below are my West Ham vs Leicester predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Vladimir Coufal (thigh) and Lucas Paqueta (ankle) are "progressing" in their recoveries from injury, according to West Ham head coach Graham Potter, but neither will make Thursday's squad.

Potter said: “Vladi certainly has a chance for Newcastle [United at home on Monday, March 10]. With Lucas, we’ll just have to see how he responds, but certainly for Leicester, no."

The Irons will also be without long-term absentee Michail Antonio, who is continuing his recovery from the car accident he was involved in last December.

German centre-forward Niclas Fullkrug and Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, who both suffered hamstring injuries in Potter’s first game in charge on January 10, are also still sidelined.

January loan signing Evan Ferguson is pushing to start his first Premier League game since joining the Hammers, while Carlos Soler and Emerson Palmieri are also in contention for recalls to the starting XI.

James Ward-Prowse's loan at Nottingham Forest was cut short earlier this month and after coming on in the second half of West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Brentford on February 15, he made his first start under Potter in north London on Saturday. The former Southampton midfielder played the duration of the game against the Gunners and could be handed another opportunity to impress from the off against Leicester.

Football Odds

Abdul Fatawu (knee), Ricardo Pereira (thigh) and Harry Souttar (ankle) are all in the Leicester treatment room while James Justin (ankle) will be assessed ahead of kick-off after missing last Friday's home hammering by Brentford (0-4).

Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte was a popular substitute for Jordan Ayew last week and the Argentine playmaker is surely on the brink of a first start since January 15.

Stephy Mavididi, Jannik Vestergaard and Oliver Skipp are other potential additions to Van Nistelrooy's starting XI.

West Ham vs Leicester Odds

West Ham are 8/13 to exact their revenge on Leicester, implying a 61.9% win probability, while the Foxes are 9/2, or an 18.2% chance, to do the double over the Irons.

The draw is priced at 16/5, both teams to score at 8/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 4/6.

Jarrod Bowen, who netted the winner in West Ham's weekend win at Arsenal, is 7/5 favorite in the anytime goalscorer market, with Jamie Vardy (9/4) first up for the visitors.

Anytime Goalscorer - James Ward-Prowse (WHU) @ 100/30

Ward-Prowse was deemed surplus to requirements by previous West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui, who shipped him off on loan to Forest last August. The 30-year-old endured a difficult half-season at the City Ground, however, despite the East Midlands side's impressive results, and he was sent back to the London Stadium on winter transfer deadline day.

After coming on at the start of the second half against Brentford, Ward-Prowse was handed a start by Potter at the Emirates on Saturday and he took his chance, making one tackle, two interceptions and three clearances to help his team to a vital victory in north London.

Potter could add another attacker - possibly Ferguson - to the mix on Thursday, but I think Ward-Prowse has done enough to keep his starting spot and he provides decent value in the anytime goalscorer market.

He hasn't scored this season but notched at least seven in his previous four league campaigns and is quite rightly heralded as a set-piece expert, arguably the greatest free-kick taker in Premier League history.

Leicester conceded 10 free-kicks against Brentford last Friday and nine to Arsenal in the game prior; if they give any fouls away within 40 yards of their penalty box at the London Stadium, they could be in trouble with Ward-Prowse primed to take advantage.

Bet Builder - West Ham to Win, Jarrod Bowen (WHU) 1+ Shots on target, Facundo Buonanotte (LEI) 2+ Shots @ 2/1

Leicester look absolutely shot and stick-ons for relegation, so I'd be shocked to see anything but a home win on Thursday, especially with the Irons on a high after Saturday's success at the Emirates.

The Foxes have lost six of their last seven league away games and I see more pain here for Van Nistelrooy's side.

The second leg of this Bet Builder requires West Ham skipper Bowen to register at least one shot on target. Bowen was the hero against Arsenal on the weekend, netting his seventh Premier League goal of the season to down the Gunners, and he's averaging 1.1 shots on target per game in the competition, managing three across as many matches this calendar year.

Leicester shipped four goals to Brentford last Friday and gave up a further three shots on their goal, all saved by Mads Hermansen.

Finally, I'm tipping Foxes forward Buonanotte to record at least two shot attempts in east London. The 20-year-old was only introduced in the 55th minute last Friday but shot three times against the Bees and is averaging 1.3 shots per game in this season's Premier League.

He's a popular player with the Foxes' faithful and should be allowed to impress from the start on Thursday. If he does, I expect him to take aim at least twice.

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