Leicester v West Ham preview: Foxes look to extend lead at top

Leicester can move a step closer to winning the Premier League with victory at home to West Ham on Super Sunday.

The Foxes start the weekend with a seven-point lead at the top of the table after five successive victories without conceding a goal.

They have beaten the Hammers in the league and Capital One Cup this season and another win would move them 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham, who travel to Stoke on Monday Night Football.

West Ham have seen their top-four hopes fade in recent weeks following three successive draws in the league.

They also lost their FA Cup quarter-final replay to Manchester United on Wednesday, but manager Slaven Bilic says there will not be any hangover.

Live Ford Super Sunday

"We are disappointed but we are in a great position in the league and everything to play for," he said. "We are totally motivated for the next six games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can.

"We need points to finish high so yes we have to win, whether it's fourth, fifth or sixth. United and Man City, five points to City is big with six games to go, but there are also teams below us playing well and hoping to get a European place next year."

Team news

Leicester have no new injury concerns, so Claudio Ranieri is likely to name the starting line-up for the 12th time in 14 league games.

West Ham can welcome back defenders Winston Reid and Sam Byram after Reid missed the FA Cup defeat to United with a tight hamstring and Byram, fit again after a recent spell out injured, was cup-tied.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Striker Diafra Sakho is still sidelined with the knee knock which forced him to withdraw from the squad to face Arsenal last weekend, but he is expected back in training on Monday.

Opta stats

West Ham have won twice as many of the meetings (10) between these two sides in the Premier League than Leicester (five), with two draws.

The Hammers have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games (W6 D6 L4).

Leicester have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight Premier League matches at the King Power Stadium.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Just two of Andy Carroll's 12 Premier League goals since the start of 2014-15 have come away from home.

The Foxes have only trailed for 47 minutes in their 22 Premier League games played since the start of November 2015.

Dimitri Payet has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (three goals, four assists).

Paul Merson's prediction

I was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really seen highlights of Slaven Bilic's side this season and thought they looked excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were really poor.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didn't do enough. They didn't get enough crosses into the box and there is no point playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty area. If you'd have asked me for a prediction on Monday I'd have said I'm not sure, but now I can't see anything but a Leicester win.

However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Betting

Leicester are odds-on at 17/20 with Sky Bet to secure another three points in their chase for the title with victory over West Ham (16/5), with the draw priced at 13/5. The Foxes are 1/5 to complete the fairy-tale, while the Hammers will be looking to bounce back after their midweek FA Cup exit to Manchester United.

Leicester have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home games and are 6/4 to extend that run. West Ham recorded wins at Everton and drew with Norwich and Chelsea in their last three away games scoring two or more goals in each of those and are 9/4 to score two or more again on Sunday. Get the latest odds and tips from our Sky Sports pundits here.