West Ham United manager David Moyes says he has been watching Leeds United closely for two years ahead of Friday’s Premier League encounter.
Leeds host the Hammers at Elland Road at 8pm tomorrow evening following their 3-1 defeat by Chelsea last Saturday.
Despite their 3-1 defeat by Manchester United last weekend, Moyes’ side have enjoyed a period of strong form recently, winning all three of their league games in November.
West Ham are in eighth place, three points ahead of 14th-placed Leeds, but Moyes has been impressed by Marcelo Bielsa’s side since their promotion back to the top flight.
“They have been very good, Leeds,” he said in his pre-match press conference, as reported by football.london.
“We have all been watching them closely for the last year or two and I always thought that Leeds coming back to the Premier League would add to the division and that is certainly the case.
“I think they have been involved in some very good games. Their style is terrific to watch and there is a lot to like about it. They have got an incredibly experienced manager and has got a good group of players in.”
Leeds will be without Robin Koch against the Hammers, with the centre-back beginning his rehabilitation for a knee injury.
That means Luke Ayling will partner Liam Cooper in central defence, with utility man Stuart Dallas slotting into right-back.
While Koch’s absence is definitely a blow - the summer signing had played every minute of every Premier League game up until his injury against Chelsea - it will not change Leeds’ high-intensity pressing game.
Like Leeds’ other opponents this season, Moyes has readied his side for Bielsa’s unique tactics.
“The physical capacity of Leeds has an effect on everybody, you have only had to see the games the others have played against them to see how much it has stretched and taxed them so I think it is a really hard game,” he added.
“Leeds have got a lot of good things going but we are playing well as well, we think we were a bit unfortunate that we played well for 65 minutes against Man United, the ball goes out and we don’t get the decision and that changes the way the game goes.
“There is an awful lot that we are doing well but we are going to have to be ready for a different type of game and hopefully show we have players with a similar energy level that they have.”
