Leeds United take on West Ham United in what has become an absolute must-win for Daniel Farke on Friday night.
It was a disappointing return to Premier League action last weekend for Leeds United, who fell to a 2-0 defeat to fellow newly-promoted side Burnley.
It wasn’t just the defeat to one of the few teams below Leeds in the table, though, but the manner in which Daniel Farke’s side lost.
There was little cutting edge in attack, with Brenden Aaronson’s appalling miss the only real opening, and Leeds were not deserving of anything more than zero points, even if Farke pointed to positive possession stats.
The loss has piled all the pressure on Friday night’s return to Elland Road, when Leeds take on a struggling West Ham United in a match they absolutely must win.
The Hammers are yet to win under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo and sit second bottom on just four points.
Here’s how Leeds United News writers think the game will go.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Leeds vs West Ham will be a thriller – Will Butcher
Both sides come into Friday’s game off the back of 2-0 defeats to other sides expected to be in the relegation scrap.
But Leeds’ 2-0 loss to Burnley was away from home, a game which Leeds dominated. West Ham were beaten at home by Brentford and, in truth, could have lost by three or four.
That, and home advantage, means Leeds will win this and I expect goals.
Prediction: Leeds 3-2 West Ham.
No Okafor or Gnonto is worrying for Leeds – Rob McHugh
The Burnley game was a must-not-lose game for Farke and his Leeds side, which they promptly did, ramping up the pressure on West Ham’s visit to Elland Road.
West Ham were terrible in their defeat against Brentford, but their away form is marginally better than their home form, which means Leeds can take nothing for granted.
With Noah Okafor and Willy Gnonto still doubtful, there is not much sign of the cavalry arriving to help Farke’s attack. But the eternal optimist in me says Leeds will sneak a 1-0 win.
Prediction: Leeds 1-0 West Ham
James, Perri and Tanaka must come in for Leeds to win – Dan Murphy
Under the lights. Elland Road roaring. Pressure on. Friday’s game are the ones we live for.
It might still be early days in the season, but the stakes feel monumental for Farke, as pressure starts to mount on the manager. It has been a decent start to the season, even after the loss to Burnley, but anything less than three points on Friday would undo all that promising work instantly.
Thankfully, West Ham are an absolute shambles. They were atrocious against Brentford on Monday and are the type of defensive team who aren’t good at defending that Leeds should thrive against.
Farke needs to make changes. Dan James, Lucas Perri and Ao Tanaka need to come in at a minimum, but if they do, it should be a victory.
Prediction: Leeds 2-0 West Ham.