Key events
Julen Lopetegui talks to Amazon. “We choose this line-up thinking they are ready to face this challenge … Niclas Füllkrug is on the bench because he can play a few minutes … we are happy because he is back, but we have to go step by step … consistency is always important … we know we face a strong team at home with a new coach … a big challenge … we have to be our best version … we have to focus on ourselves … we are aware Leicester are a good team.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy speaks to Amazon Prime. “It’s been a bit hectic! … long days, a lot needs to happen … get to know each other as much as possible … right from the first conversation I have had with the owner, it is very positive … the club, players and facilities … it’s amazing … everything at the highest level … Enzo [Maresca] is a good friend of mine, that helped a lot to move forward [and take the job] … we will press at the right moments … then go forward … good pressure and counter attacks … the goal is staying in the Premier League … we can achieve that.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first Leicester starting XI sees four changes to the side sent out to face heavy defeat at Brentford. Jannik Vestergaard, Victor Kristiansen, Bilal El Khannouss and Kasey McAteer take the places of Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, Luke Thomas and Jordan Ayew, all of whom drop to the bench. Harry Winks is still recovering from a groin problem.
Julen Lopetegui makes five changes after the 5-2 debacle against Arsenal. Back in: Vladimír Coufal, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Edson Álvarez, Danny Ings and, returning from his five-game ban for that meltdown at Spurs, Mohammed Kudus. Crysencio Summerville, Michail Antonio, Lucas Paquetá and Emerson Palmieri drop to the bench, while Jean-Clair Todibo is out injured.
The teams
Leicester City: Hermansen, Justin, Vestergaard, Coady, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Soumare, El Khannouss, Buonanotte, McAteer, Vardy.
Subs: Ward, Faes, Okoli, Thomas, Skipp, Mavididi, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Daka.
West Ham United: Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Coufal, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Kudus, Bowen, Ings.
Subs: Foderingham, Summerville, Antonio, Paqueta, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Emerson, Casey.
Referee: Josh Smith
VAR: Neil Davies
Preamble
Leicester fans are full of hope thanks to their new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy; West Ham supporters are rapidly losing patience with their new guy Julen Lopetegui. Either way, though, these teams go into tonight’s fixture off the back of a skelping, Leicester losing 4-1 at Brentford last weekend, the Hammers shipping five in 45 minutes at home to Arsenal. A bounceback victory would mean so much. Kick-off is at 8.15pm GMT. It’s on!
