Five things to watch for in this thriller

Leicester City might be busy closing in on one of the most far-fetched fairytale successes in the history of the Premier League. Fearless and ultra-composed, Claudio Ranieri’s astonishing underdogs are now just three wins away from Premier League immortality.

Will the Foxes take one step closer to the unthinkable with a win over top-four-chasing West Ham United tomorrow evening?

Here are five things to look out for in the clash between this season’s over-achievers …

Bilic brainwave

If there is an award to acclaim English football’s most intuitive tactician, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic would top my list.

Since taking charge at Upton Park, the Croat has produced thoughtful game plans that have consistently outsmarted his managerial rivals. While his players deserve due credit for taking a string of major scalps this term, they would be the first to confess their managers’ studious football brain gave them a leg-up.

Last week, he second-guessed Arsene Wenger’s team selection to great effect, switching the team’s approach dramatically to prey on Arsenal’s weaknesses, and he will be plotting something unexpected to challenge the Foxes, too.

I wonder if he might start two up front to unsettle the ever-improving Robert Huth-Wes Morgan partnership? Leicester’s defensive rocks are in such a smooth groove, that it may make sense to throw in a curveball that jolts their rhythm.

Bilic’s mind will be whirring around with ideas. The table-toppers should expect the unexpected.

perfect double pivot

Television does not do justice to the efforts of N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater. It is only when you see Leicester’s engine room in the flesh that you can truly appreciate the qualities they bring.

When it comes to doing the dirty work and protecting their back four, I have not seen an all-round midfield pairing to rival them sinceGilberto and Patrick Vieira bolshily patrolled the middle ground for Arsene Wenger over a decade ago.

Everywhere you look, one or both of them are invariably on hand, making life difficult for opposition teams — and that will be invaluable against a Hammers unit that includes the excellent Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate.

The wonderful Kante has got my vote for Footballer of the Year.

No one has made more tackles or interceptions than the Frenchman, who has helped lay the platform for Leicester’s forwards to shine. On the ball, his quality is also vastly underestimated. Without him, the Foxes would not be half the team they are.

Vardy to loiter left

Powerful wide man Michail Antonio has proved to be a bargain buy, scoring goals and creating plenty down West Ham’s right-hand side, but he is a winger, not a fullback. Injuries have forced Bilic to risk him in the role, and although he has performed decently, the 26-year-old is a temporary weak spot.

Should he be in defence once more, it will catch the eye of a resurgent Jamie Vardy.

They will not be direct opponents at the King Power Stadium, but when Antonio ventures forward (as is his natural way), Leicester’s top scorer will drift into his channel waiting for a breakaway pass.

Even in general possession, watch out for the England star veering in that direction, too. Antonio’s positioning is suspect, and gaping holes have appeared between him and the closest central defender in recent games.

Do not be surprised if Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton also aim their crosses towards his far post as a matter of course. If Vardy, Shinji Okazaki or Leonardo Ulloa isolate the makeshift defender, Leicester could be in business.

Flooding the box

Leicester’s outstanding defensive rocks Morgan and Huth love nothing more than to gobble up crosses that are floated their way. Rarely pulled out of position, they are ultra-reliable when it comes to clearing danger.

The key to dragging them outside their comfort zone is to switch play quickly and to whip in quality crosses, nice and early into the danger zone, before they have had time to settle. If the box is filled with extra bodies (say, two forwards and at least another midfielder), their chances of a straightforward header also diminish greatly.

Not enough opponents have performed this tactic well enough since the turn of the year. In this regard, West Ham boast the players to test them more than most. Out wide, Payet, both Antonio and Aaron Cresswell have laser-guided accuracy with the ball at their feet, while inside the area, Lanzini’s canny runs, coupled with the aerial power of Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia, offer promising targets.

If the Hammers can whip deliveries over the central defenders towards the far post, Leicester’s fullbacks will be second favourites against Carroll or Valencia.

Payet vS Mahrez

I love them both, and these two elegant playmakers fully deserve their places on the PFA shortlist for Player of the Year.

Mahrez is enduring a tiny dip in form, but if he is allowed room to manipulate clever passes, or have shots on goal, West Ham keeper Adrian will be a busy man. It is vital that midfielders Noble and Kouyate take turns to shift across and provide cover for their teammates when he dances beautifully inside.

The same applies to Drinkwater and Kante. The Leicester pair will require eyes in the back of their heads to know where West Ham’s star man is. His elusive movements mean he is one of the hardest players in the division to track.

If this contest is to be lit up by a moment of sheer brilliance, chances are one of these two will be involved.

Final score

Prediction: 1-1

The Hammers looked jaded when Manchester United knocked them out of the FA Cup on Thursday morning, but I fancy them to end Leicester’s marathon clean-sheet record at the King Power. Averaging almost two goals per game this year, they know where the back of the net is.

I cannot back against the Foxes, though. Their in-game management is sensational, so even if the match does not go entirely their own way, I suspect they will find a way to grab at least one point. If they take all three, the title race will be as good as over.

Big Match Predictions

Norwich City v Sunderland

Victory for the Canaries will practically end Sunderland and Newcastle’s top flight status, so if it’s relegation-related drama that floats your boat, don’t take your eyes off this one. Alex Neil’s Norwich have passion and fight, Sam Allardyce’s Black Cats have organisation and a lethan striker in Jermain Defoe. This is almost impossible to predict, but I’m going for the latter to prevail.

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Manchester City

It feels like Chelsea have dialed out. They have next to nothing to play for, and with one eye on the beach – or this summer’s European Championships – I can’t see the Blues players finding enough intensity to beat a City outfit that’s ending the campaign with momentum. The outstanding Kevin de Bruyne would love to make them pay for writing him off as a no-hoper.

Prediction: 1-3

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

A woeful defensive display at Upton Park last weekend destroyed Arsenal’s flagging title aspirations, and they won’t find it easy to pick themselves up for Palace’s visit. But with an FA Cup semi-final on their minds, I have a hunch the Eagles may be distracted. Also, when the pressure’s off, we often see the Gunners make hay. It won’t lift the fans’ mood too much, but Wenger’s boys should win with ease.

Prediction: 2-0

Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur

Earlier this season, a trip to the Britannia would have been viewed with more trepidation by Spurs, but when you compare their current form with Mark Hughes’ side, they have very little to fear. Midtable-itus has set in at Stoke, and when I look at the individual match up between Harry Kane and Stoke defender Phillip Wollscheid, I can only see one winner. Tottenham are still in the hunt for honours.

Prediction: 0-2

TV TIMES:

Tonight:

Norwich v Sunderland (Singtel Ch102 and StarHub Ch227; 7.45pm)

Everton v Southampton (Ch103 and Ch228; 9.55pm)

Newcastle v Swansea (Ch104 and Ch229; 9.55pm)

West Brom v Watford (Ch105 and Ch230; 9.55pm)

Man Utd v Aston Villa (Ch102 and Ch227; 10pm)

Tomorrow:

Chelsea v Man City (Ch102 and Ch227; 12.30am)

Leicester v West Ham (Ch102 and Ch227; 8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Liverpool (Ch103 and Ch228; 8.30pm)

Arsenal v Crystal Palace (Ch102 and Ch227; 11pm)

Tuesday:

Stoke v Tottenham (Ch102 and Ch227; 3am)

About the author:

Former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for several well-known football websites and international publications. Follow him @adrianjclarke