Our live stream ahead of Friday nights Premier League match, Leeds vs West Ham is now up and running, kicking off at 20.00 BST
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Leeds come into the game off the back of a defeat to Chelsea last Saturday. While Patrick Bamford continued his excellent scoring record for the campaign, getting on the scoresheet after 4 minutes, it unfortunately wasn’t enough to keep Chelsea at bay as they returned fire to win the game 3-1.
Having conceded in injury time after pushing for a late equaliser, Leeds will be disappointed not to have got a share of the points.
You would struggle to find many people who have not been impressed by Leeds this season, particularly in fixtures against the bigger clubs, however given the level of investment in the summer, 14 points from 11 games means Bielsa will demand further improvement.
West Ham also come into the game of a 3-1 home defeat last Saturday at the hands of Manchester United. A similar story as West Ham took the lead in the first half only for Man Utd to come back firing on all cylinders in the second stanza.
The Hammers had won their previous three matches before facing United, and will hope to pick up momentum once again. Moyes’ men will be looking to tighten at the back and extend their stay in the top half of the Premier League table.
The last time the two clubs met was in 2012, again at Elland road with the result ending in a 1-1 draw…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Marcelo Bielsa
On team news…
“Shackleton and Hernandez don’t have the rhythm we would like but are healthy and available. Llorente won’t be available as he has a muscular problem.”
“Koch’s surgery went well. The length of his absence depends on the evolution, but he is likely to be out for three months.”
Who will play with Liam Cooper?
“It could be Ayling or Phillips… Rodrigo will come in for Llorente. The 11 is going to be Meslier, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski, Phillips, Klich, Moreno, Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford.”
On Llorente’s injury…
“He has a muscular problem. We won’t be able to count on him for at least two weeks but we will have to see how long it takes to cure.
“Perhaps it may last longer depending on his evolution – for sure at least two or three weeks we won’t be able to count on him.”
On learning the players…
“Every performance brings conclusions. It allows you to find out what are the things that need development.
“Also, you pick up the qualities that the team can start to use on a regular basis. Chelsea leaves us a scenario in which we can learn from various things.”
On West Ham…
“The teams that are stabilised in the Premier League, they have the possibility to correct the aspects in which they feel are weaknesses.
“If they continue with the same coach these improvements are more visible.
“West Ham has what most Premier League teams have, they have two players in each attacking position which are similar or of the same quality.
“This gives you the idea that they are a team who has good offensive potential. They have a structure of seven defensive players which is very solid.
“They are very clear on when they want to attack, defend and how they want to play.
“They are all aspects in which you can praise the coach.”
On defensive options…
“In the game against Aston Villa, Ayling played as a centre-back and played a very good game.
“In the game at Liverpool, Pascal [Struijk] played a very good game. In the Championship [Kalvin] Phillips played as a centre-back and adapted to this role.
“We’re not thinking of the possibility of bringing another defender into the team. We also expect to count on [Gaetano] Berardi from February.”
On defending set pieces…
“I think this is a question that has the response included in the question. What I can tell you is that we are trying to improve in this aspect in all the ways I can imagine we can improve.
“Up until this moment we haven’t been able to resolve it. It shows that I haven’t yet found the tool which will prevent this from having.”
David Moyes
On Michail Antonio’s and the squad’s fitness…
“[Antonio] is probably doubtful. He’s still recovering at the moment so at this moment in time, I’d say he’ll be doubtful for the game [on Friday].”
“Most of them are okay at the moment. Ryan Fredericks is the one who’s just come back – he’s had an injury for a day or two. He had a groin strain and hurt it slightly, but we’re hoping he’ll be okay as well.”
On Leeds United’s successful return to the Premier League this season…
“I’ve always thought that Leeds coming back would add to the Premier League. They’ve been involved in some great games.”
“Their style is great to watch. They’ve got a really experienced manager and he’s certainly got a really good group of players.”
On Marcelo Bielsa naming his Leeds United team in advance of the game..
“Very often the teams were named beforehand in Spain. We see it in other sports. It doesn’t happen in our sport for different reasons, but overall, does it make it easier? “
“I don’t think so because they’re a good team. We’ll keep our team until we’re ready to announce it and we’ll prepare our players for the game.”
On the success of his recruitment since returning to the Club…
“I can’t take all the credit for it! My time at Everton showed me the sorts of players who can come in and give you a chance. I want players who are hungry to succeed and a lot of the players we bring in are of that ilk.”
“It’s never easy, recruitment.”You always sign players in the hope they will improve your team and your squad, and now and again you get a bit lucky and they step up to the plate, and we’ve had that.”
On the positive mood around the Club…
“I’ve got to say it’s good. I think results make the difference, wherever you are. Winning has a big influence on how everybody perceives you – that’s just football.”
“Sometimes having the best players gives you the best chance, but often you have to find a way of winning with the group of players you’ve got. I’ve got to say that there’s a great air around the Club, the players are in good spirits.”
“We’re trying to make it better – I want to grow it if possible, as there’s a lot of room for improvement in this Club and I hope we can do that in the future.”
On backing the Paris St-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehirplayers who left the pitch in the Champions League earlier this week, after the fourth official was accused of using a racist term …
“One hundred per cent. A lot of credit must go to the players who made that decision. Whether you’re a supporter, player, a coach, a referee, it’s not going to be accepted – anywhere in life now, not just on a football pitch.”
“That’s the way it should be and I think the decision the players made the other night was a big one, but the right one.”
On his team’s form ahead of the challenge of travelling to Elland Road…
“I think it’s a really hard game, but we think we’re playing well as well.”We played well for 60-65 minutes against Manchester United, a ball was out, and it changes the way the game goes from there.”
“We’re going to have to play well and show that we have players with a similar type of energy as Leeds do as well.”
“We want to win as many games as we can and this is another opportunity. It’s a tough game but we’re in good fettle. Our players know their jobs and we have lots of players playing well at the moment, but we go there knowing we’re up against an interesting and good team.”
On Aaron Cresswell…
“He’s a very good boy to work with. It’s the second time I’ve been here with Cressy and on both occasions he’s been very valuable.”
“He’s calm, he’s consistent and players regular, and I think he’s found a bit of a role which he’s comfortable with as a left centre-back, but he’s also more than capable of being a left-back.”
“His assists this season have been really important – he’s really stepped up with his deliveries and his involvement in the game. We want him to keep doing that.”
On consistent growth in the Premier League…
“I think we’ve improved and seen that as we’ve gone along. We’ve maybe not been as clinical when we’ve had opportunities to win games clearer, but we’re growing.”
“We have to make small steps, go layer-on-layer in everything we do, and continue to make progress. I’m already looking at how we can get better again – whether it be more new faces, how we play on the pitch, our formation… I’m always looking to improve.”
“The positivity around the team, the players and in the dressing room is fantastic. There are so many things connected to getting better results.”
“It’s a great club and it’s my job to try and make it great again – and I feel there are opportunities to do that.”
On Marcelo Bielsa naming his starting eleven ahead of schedule…
“It might not be his team! It could be a bluff. It could be very clever, but I do think it’s quite common for managers in Spain to name their teams before the games, from my experience. Now and again, I’ve named the team early, but most of the time we keep it until later.”
FORM:
Leeds United Premier League form: WLLDWL
West Ham United Premier League form: DLWWWL
LINEUPS:
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Raphinha, Klich, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Masuaku; Bowen, Haller, Benrahma
THATSAGOAL PREDICTION:
Leeds to Win – 6/5 with FanTeam.
Just three points separate Leeds and West Ham heading into this one. West Ham’s form looks superior on paper but opponents need to be taken into account. The Hammers may have three wins from their last five but they have come against sides currently placed 12th, 17th, and 20th.
Meanwhile, Leeds have just one win in their last five but that was a 1-0 win over Everton. The form books have perhaps skewed the odds on this one a little and over evens for a Leeds home win looks kind.
Time to take a look at our Leeds vs West Ham live match stream as it happens…
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