Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has predicted that West Ham will manage a point against Leicester City at the King Power on Saturday.
The Hammers travel to the Midlands on the back of a 1-0 loss to bitter rivals Tottenham last weekend, a result which has seen them fall to two consecutive defeats after a mini resurgence in form.
Merson believes that they will come away from the King Power with a 1-1 draw on Saturday when they meet Leicester, who are also coming in off a 3-1 defeat by Arsenal on Monday, with ‘top-six quality’ Marko Arnautovic singled out as the difference-maker.
In his predictions for Sky Sports, he said: “Two evenly matched teams here. West Ham will miss Andriy Yarmolenko – which means the focus will be on Marko Arnautovic to deliver – he’s more than capable though. He’s ‘top-six’ quality.
“I think he will score here but Leicester will too. Score draw.”
OPINION
This is a pretty safe prediction from Merson, and one that is hard to argue with. Both teams are coming in to this one after losses, and both teams have had relatively similar seasons. Both have had poor patches and brilliant patches, and both will be aiming a lot higher than where they currently stand in the table. Leicester will feel aggrieved that they did not come away from the Emirates with a point on Monday, with the Foxes outplaying the Gunners for large periods in that one. The same feelings will be had at West Ham, with their game against Spurs mightily tight and decided by a moment of quality from a top-six side. Both teams will be confident coming in to this despite those losses, and it could actually be a very entertaining game. The two respective attacks are likely to take the limelight, and Merson is right to single out Arnautovic as the danger man for West Ham, while James Maddison will be the one to watch for the Foxes.
