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• Van Nistelrooy already making changes at Leicester ahead of debut against West Ham

  Ruud Van Nistelrooy said that he has already started making changes at Leicester City as he prepares for his first game in charge against West Ham.

  The former striker joined the Foxes only days after leaving his interim role at Manchester United and replaced Steve Cooper, who was in charge of only 15 matches in all competitions. 

  Leicester go into Van Nistelrooy's first game sitting 16th with 10 points from 13 matches, after a 4-1 defeat to Brentford under caretaker boss Ben Dawson on Saturday. 

  "In two days it's difficult to make a lot of changes, but we have started to make changes in the style of play, training sessions, structure, little by little, starting to build a foundation of a highly motivated team who can compete in this league," the new Leicester boss said. 

  "I had a meeting with the players, and it was the first thing to address - the situation we're in, the challenge that we face, and what's necessary to get out of that situation." 

  West Ham, in 14th place, also find themselves in a spot of bother after a 5-2 defeat to second-placed Arsenal last time and Julen Lopetegui will be hoping to collect some valuable points off Leicester, who are two berths below them.

  But the under-pressure Spanish tactician is aware that a new manager will provide a spring in Leicester's step at the King Power Stadium. 

  "I think that Ruud is a very good manager. He has shown this before in the teams he has worked in, and he has experience in the Premier League,” Lopetegui said.

  “We have to be ready, because I am sure the challenge is going to be very tough and demanding. That extra step and energy which happens when a new coach arrives is always important," the Hammers boss said. 

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Leicester - Facundo Buonanotte

  No player has been involved in more goals for Leicester in the Premier League this season than 19-year-old Facundo Buonanotte, who is tied with captain Jamie Vardy on four goals and two assists. 

  The Argentine netted in both of Leicester's wins this season and was also on the scoresheet in the defeat to Brentford on Saturday. 

  West Ham - Jarrod Bowen 

  With eight goals and seven assists, Jarrod Bowen has been involved in 15 goals in his last 18 league appearances against promoted sides. 

  The West Ham captain has also had a hand in five goals in five league starts against Leicester (three goals and two assists). The 27-year-old already has three goals and three assists in the league this season. 

  MATCH PREDICTION: WEST HAM WIN

  West Ham will be favourites as they make the trip to the King Power Stadium to face a Leicester side, who are only one point clear of safety and are the risk of dropping straight back into the Championship. 

  The Hammers are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League games against promoted sides (W10 D2) with a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in 2022 their last defeat against a newcomer. 

  The visitors will also be boosted by the ending of a run of four away league games without a win (D2 L2) with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United at St James' Park on 25 November.  

  They also did not lose any of their five midweek league fixtures last season (W2 D3), with both those wins coming in away matches.

  Leicester, meanwhile, have kept just one clean sheet in their last 19 home league games and have conceded the opening goal in 17 of those 19 games (W4 D4 L11). 

  LIVE WIN PROBABILITY 

  West Ham win - 45.8%
  Leicester win - 29.5%
  Draw - 24.7% 

• Flick wants to see clinical finishing from Barcelona

  Barcelona must rediscover their golden touch in front of goal if they are to push on and win LaLiga, says Hansi Flick.

  The Blaugrana are winless in three league matches and have seen their lead at the top of the standings cut to just one point.

  Defeats against Real Sociedad and Las Palmas cut Barcelona's have come either side of a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, in which they gave up a 2-0 lead.

  With second-placed Real Madrid just a point behind and with a game in hand, Flick knows Barca cannot afford any slip-ups against Mallorca on Tuesday.

  And Flick put Barca's recent run down to wasting chances.

  "For me, the good news is that November is over and we are in December," Flick told reporters.

  "The team has given a lot in those games, in the midfield we have had a lot of intensity and we have been very disciplined. We created chances but we have to finish better.

  "It may seem like I'm making excuses, but we lost. We have to be focused in attack. We can't afford to have two or three chances and do not score them. In football it's the goals that count."

  Across their past three fixtures in LaLiga, Barca have scored just three goals, underperforming their 4.7 expected goals (xG).

  In that time, only Real Valladolid (4.76%) and Rayo Vallecano (6.25%) have a lower shot conversion rate than Barca (6.38%).

  Flick says his team just need to show more focus on the details.

  "We are a young team that have to learn and fight for victories," Flick said.

  "At the back, we need to stop conceding goals and for that we have to defend as a unit. In attack, we also have to be united. We have to score with the chances we get.

  "We had long possessions and a lot of chances, but in the end it's a fight to win the duels. When I see (Pau) Cubarsi or Inigo Martinez and how well they defend.

  "Pedri runs a lot in midfield... so do the others. There is a long way to go, we want to win the league title and for that everyone has to fight." 

• Rooney left 'embarrassed' by heavy Plymouth defeats

  Wayne Rooney has been left "embarrassed" by Plymouth Argyle's recent performances on the back of conceding 10 goals in the space of two games.

  Plymouth are winless in four Championship matches, with that run having seen them drop to just one place above the relegation zone.

  Their goal difference has taken a huge hit in the past week, however, following a 6-1 loss to Norwich City and a 4-0 defeat to Bristol City.

  Rooney, who was appointed as head coach in May, is reportedly under pressure, and Manchester United's record goalscorer knows matters must improve swiftly.

  "I've been criticised since I was a 16-year-old boy, my whole career," Rooney said, as reported by BBC Sport.

  "What you always want is weapons to fight back with – at the minute we've got none.

  "So we have to take it on the chin and hope that we get through this, because the last two games arguably have been the toughest and hardest week of my managerial career.

  "So I need to find a way to get through it, but also get that message through to the players to make sure I lift them.

  "It's at a point now where the players need to understand that they need to give more and they need to show more character, more fight, more desire.

  "It was very difficult walking over [to the fans] and not feel embarrassed."

   

  Plymouth have the lowest expected goals (xG) in the Championship this season, having accumulated only 12.7. However, they have netted 18 times.

  It is a bad mix for Rooney, though, as Argyle have the highest xG against, with their 35.8 xGA five clear of next-worst Stoke City (30.8), while Plymouth have also conceded the most goals (38) and shots (324, 40 more than any other side).

  "Ultimately it's my responsibility – I take full responsibility for the results, I pick the team, I pick the tactics," Rooney added.

  "But I think the players are at a stage now where they need to hear, not just in the dressing room, but they need to hear it from outside as well, that they have to show more.

  "We've got a duty to this football club to show a pride, a respect, a passion, a fight for this club and the last two games I feel it hasn't been there."