There are plenty of challenges ahead for West Ham United, as their season could go in either direction depending on how they perform in the games remaining this season. On one hand, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are battling a tight relegation battle with the likes of Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and, to an extent, even Leeds United, but they have another competition to manoeuvre through.
West Ham fans will come into the London Stadium with the expectation that their team have had the time to prepare for the task ahead, starting with the crucial FA Cup quarter-finals against Leeds United. The Hammers are in the last eight of the tournament owing to their win over Brentford in the previous round on penalties, where Bees attacker Dango Ouattara missed his kick with a failed Panenka, grabbing the headlines.
Santo’s men will be hoping this upcoming game against Leeds United serves as a double booster of sorts, as he will want a top performance ahead of facing fellow relegation battlers Wolves next weekend. Form and results are crucial for the Hammers at this stage of the season, as they will hope to go far in the FA Cup.
Daniel Farke will be a bit worried about his team’s inability to register regular wins, especially in the Premier League. Leeds United have only two wins in their last eight games across all competitions, with both coming in the FA Cup.
Courtesy of their most recent one in the competition, against Norwich City, they are in this quarter-final and face West Ham United. Farke will hope his team puts in a display worthy of a semi-final spot, although his primary objective for the season is to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Espirito Santo is likely to rest former Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville for this one, with the attacker still recovering from a calf strain. He might be fit enough to play, but it represents an unwanted risk for the Hammers as they want him fit and firing for the Premier League games ahead.
The other doubt for the Hammers is defender Jean-Clair Todibo, with the centre-back still having a chance to make it to the matchday squad; however, Santo might be cautious about the defender too.
Mateus Fernandes will star in the West Ham midfield alongside Freddie Potts and Soucek. There might be some changes for the front line, as Taty Castellanos will feature out wide in Summerville’s position, while Pablo and Jarrod Bowen will complete the frontline.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3) – Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Fernandes, Potts, Soucek; Bowen, Pablo, Castellanos
Farke, on the other hand, barely has any injury issues with his squad, which is excellent news for Leeds United given their objectives for the season ahead of the final run-in. Gudmundsson is back from a domestic suspension and could be made available if fit.
The defender was one of two doubts for Leeds United alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who withdrew from the England camp with a hamstring issue. So the duo’s participation will depend on whether they can turn up fit for this encounter in London.
Speaking of hamstrings, Noah Okafor made his return from a similar issue against Brentford and did not participate with Switzerland over the international break.
Okafor could be one to feature either from the start or off the bench. Lukas Nmecha is the one pencilled in to lead the line, while Farke will likely opt for a strong line-up to face West Ham at the London Stadium.
Probable Line-up (3-5-2) – Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Stach, Ampadu, Ampadu, Justin; Aaronson, Nmecha
West Ham are under more pressure compared to Leeds United when it comes to the relegation race, although this being an FA Cup match, a good performance will galvanise their players — and more so Bowen. The Hammers skipper has been patchy all season, but he needs to bring his A-game to the fore in the final run-in.
A top-notch performance against Leeds United should be on Bowen’s mind, and he will want a display worthy of taking the Hammers into the semi-final. He will be crucial for the club in the run-in after this one, as Santo will hope his forward and main man in attack is fit and firing on all cylinders, starting with this home game against Leeds United.
Leeds United will want a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1987, and their strength in depth could potentially give them an equal chance in this upcoming clash. However, the prospect of beating the Hammers will be a tough ask given their overall form and their inability to win games.
This could be another instance where Farke’s men fail to get a key win under their belt, as the Hammers could rely on their strong home form for inspiration. West Ham are the slight favourites to clinch a win and move into the semi-final on Sunday.
