[size=34]West Ham v Leicester preview: Slaven Bilic's Upton Park return[/size]
Eighteen years after leaving West Ham as a player, Slaven Bilic returns to Upton Park for his first home league game in charge of the Hammers.
After his Premier League tenure got off to a flying start with an impressive – and rare – away victory at Arsenal, Bilic’s side now host Leicester, who made their own eye-catching start to life under a new manager on the opening weekend.
Claudio Ranieri’s side won 4-2 against Sunderland, with winger Riyad Mahrez on the scoresheet twice, to extend a sensational run which has seen Leicester win seven of their last 10 games in the Premier League going back to last season.
However, the Foxes' Premier League run in the capital is rather more infamous - their winless run in London stretches to 20 matches.
Team news
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], according to Bilic.
On-loan right-back Carl Jenkinson returns to the squad after being ineligible to play against his parent club Arsenal, with Pedro Obiang also fit to make his debut if called upon. However, forwards Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia (both knee) remain sidelined, as does defender Joey O'Brien (hamstring).
Midfielder Morgan Amalfitano is not in contention having been made to train with the youth team following a disagreement with Bilic.
For Leicester, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. Midfielder Matty James remains Leicester’s only absentee due to the knee problem he picked up at the end of last season.
Stats
West Ham have won seven of their previous eight home Premier League games against Leicester.
Leicester lost all six of their Premier League games last season in London.
Leicester have gone 20 Premier League games without a victory in the capital (D3 L17).
Both sides are looking to win their opening two games of a Premier League season for the first time since 1997/98.
Leicester City have won 25 Premier League points since April 1st 2015; four more than any other side.
Claudio Ranieri has lost three of his last four Premier League games as a manager versus West Ham.
Merson's prediction
A top of the table clash! Both these sides had phenomenal results at the weekend, but I worry for West Ham in this one. Did West Ham get it right the other day or were Arsenal poor?
Leicester have bundles of pace... West Ham are going to have to bomb on at home, and the visitors are going to pick them off. People have been sceptical of Claudio Ranieri's arrival, but they have some very good footballers at the club already. He is not attempting to build them from nothing.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]