‘Will be a battle’: Kalvin Phillips expecting a tough game against £60,000-a-week West Ham man

Add as preferred source on Google

Kalvin Phillips has been speaking to Leeds’ official website ahead of today’s meeting with West Ham, where he commented on Declan Rice.

What’s the story?

Well, Phillips was asked about Rice, as the pair are midfield partners for England under Gareth Southgate.

The 25-year-old is quoted as saying: “It’s going to be fun, it will be a battle.

“It will be nice to see him as well, I haven’t seen him for a few weeks now. I don’t think we’ve missed each other too much, but it will be a good game!”

It certainly will be a difficult encounter against the £60,000-a-week West Ham man.

Rice has grown enormously in recent years at West Ham, and now wears the armband with Mark Noble on the bench most weeks.

The 22-year-old has also started to add another element to his game, using his long strides and powerful frame to surge up the pitch.

It saw Rice net West Ham’s second goal against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League, after he himself won the ball on the halfway line.

Phillips will need to be wary of this, and try to stop West Ham’s No.41 in his tracks.

Leeds or West Ham?

In our view, Leeds will get their first Premier League win of the season today.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men are having the old ‘second season syndrome’ accusation pointed at them after a run of three draws and two defeats from five Premier League games so far.

However, Leeds are a good side, and we can’t see this poor run going on for much longer.

In front of a packed Elland Road, we believe the Yorkshire-based outfit will grab a 1-0 win today, despite their injury issues.

West Ham have played a Europa League game, a Premier League game and a Carabao Cup game all in the space of six days.

As a result, David Moyes may find one or two of his players looking a bit lethargic, something Bielsa can take advantage of.