This week, the English Premier League (EPL) brings two intriguing matchups to the forefront as teams battle for survival and positioning. West Ham United will host Leicester City at the London Stadium, and Newcastle United will visit Anfield to face Liverpool. Both matches promise to be pivotal for the respective teams involved.
First, West Ham United is welcoming Leicester City on February 28, 2025, at 03:00 WIB. The Hammers are currently teetering on the brink of relegation, sitting at 16th place with 30 points. Their situation is precarious, but they recently secured a much-needed victory against Arsenal, winning 1-0 away, which could bolster their confidence going forward. According to West Ham manager Graham Potter, "Meskipun Leicester berada di posisi 19 klasemen, terpaut 5 poin dari posisi aman, kami mewaspadai tim yang berjuang untuk hidup mereka." This sentiment captures the urgency as both teams look to shift their fortunes.
On the other side of the pitch, Leicester City finds themselves at 19th place, accumulating only 17 points this season. They are engulfed in the relegation battle and desperately need points to secure their spot away from the drop zone. Leicester has struggled lately, having lost their last four matches across all competitions, which has only intensified the pressure they face. Their recent form shows they have significant work to do under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Historically, Leicester has been strong against West Ham, leading their last five encounters with three wins under their belt. Leicester defeated the Hammers 3-1 during their previous matchup earlier this season. Yet, with West Ham’s recent performance, they might be poised to turn the tables this time. If West Ham can leverage their momentum from last week’s win, they could very well secure three points.
The projected line-up for West Ham indicates they’ll continue with their 5-3-2 formation, wary of injuries affecting key players like Vladimir Coufal and Michail Antonio. Meanwhile, Leicester is likely to maintain their 4-2-3-1 formation, needing to adjust quickly as they manage player absences such as Harry Souttar and Ricardo Pereira.
Based on statistics, this match could be highly competitive, and fans will be eager to see if Leicester can shake off their losing streak to escape the danger zone or if West Ham can capitalize on their newfound confidence.
Turning to the other anticipated clash, Newcastle United visits Liverpool on the same evening, February 28, 2025. Newcastle sits at 5th place with 44 points and has had mixed results lately, winning four and losing three of their last seven matches. Their recent victory against Nottingham Forest was quite the roller coaster, sealing the match 4-3 at St. James' Park after initially falling behind.
Key players like Alexander Isak, who has 19 goals this season, and Anthony Gordon are pivotal to Newcastle's attacking prowess. Isak closely trails Mohamed Salah, who leads the league’s scoring chart. Under the guidance of Eddie Howe, Newcastle has shown potential to threaten even the top teams, but resilience is key as they head to Anfield.
Howe emphasized the importance of preparation and execution, stating, "Kami harus bermain mendekati pertandingan yang sempurna." With past encounters tightly contested—including their last meeting ending 3-3 at St. James' Park—Newcastle will aim to disrupt Liverpool's home advantage and secure invaluable points toward their champions league aspirations.
Newcastle's last victory against the top-tier teams has been elusive, winning only one of their last 27 matches against such opponents. They’ve faced challenges, particularly during night matches, but recent victories might instill some hope. Player absentees like Jamaal Lascelles complicate things, but overall, Newcastle's depth might still hold firm against Liverpool.
Liverpool, under Jürgen Klopp, will seek to solidify their own position as they continue to push for the title. The stakes are high for both teams—Newcastle wanting to consolidate their position for European competition and Liverpool not wanting to slip up at home.
Matching the trends and narratives of both fixtures shows the high drama and intensity of the EPL this season. Each of these matches holds significant meaning as teams strive for survival and progress, making for thrilling viewing for fans worldwide.