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The early statistics prove Leicester have made a dominant start. They've enjoyed 70% possession in the opening 10 minutes, hit the woodwork and forced a fine save. 

Leicester are razor sharp - something we have not seen too much lately. They continue to swarm all over West Ham, who have spent the opening six or seven minutes desperately defending their goal. Can they make this spell count?

Image source, Reuters

This is more like it from the champions.

They're all over West Ham and again come close to opening the scoring when Marc Albrighton's cross finds Islam Slimani unmarked at the far post.

Fortunately for the Hammers, his header slams against the post. Great start by Leicester.

Image source, Reuters

What a start by Leicester. What a start by Riyad Mahrez.

He's a couple of minutes into his return when he forces Darren Randolph into a fingertip save after the Hammers defence had fallen asleep following Demarai Gray's flick.

Will Leicester end a momentous 2016 on a high?

Peep, peep. We're under way.

Mark Lawrenson
Five-time Liverpool title winner

West Ham have got injured players coming back to full fitness and have more of a need to ship some players out than to add to their squad.

West Ham's recruitment in the summer just has not worked and it is hard to think of a summer signing who has made them better.

Their results have picked up recently, but if Hammers boss Slaven Bilic does want to strengthen anywhere then the owners will back him.

They always do stay up - but this season, with the new stadium, it is crucial. I cannot see them getting relegated, but they will not want to take any risks.

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

Leicester's summer of celebration has been followed by the mother of all hangovers that stubbornly refuses to clear and leaves them sitting just three points above the relegation zone as the year draws to a close.

Claudio Ranieri's team have shown glimpses of their quality recently against Manchester City and Stoke, but are in real danger of being dragged into a full-blown relegation battle.

Will Leicester's fans be drowning their sorrows later?

Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has paid for the club's older fans to have a free beer on him at today's game.

Some supporters, however, seemed content to tuck into their pre-match pies and hot dogs.

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, speaking a few moments ago: "We have to win today. For us, now it's important to have some good matches and victories in a row, and to take a lot of confidence."

On 20-year-old Ben Chilwell keeping his place at left-back: "I want to see him again."

Mark Lawrenson
Five-time Liverpool title winner

Leicester brought in plenty of players in the summer and I am not sure they need any more new faces while those signings continue to bed in.

But you could argue they need to change something because the cracks have started to appear - the two centre-backs have looked rocky and, in attack, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have not got near last season's form.

I can't help but make the connection between the way some of their players are performing and the big contracts many of them signed after winning the title.

You normally get the odd one or two at every club who take their eye off the ball a little bit in that situation, but at Leicester it is as if it has happened to everyone at the same time.

Read more from Lawro on who needs what in January here.

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

West Ham's man of the match when I saw them against Hull a couple of weeks ago was the post [as voted by fans on the club's Twitter account], but they won that day and have found the sort of form recently that Leicester currently crave.

A win here would be their fourth in a row and add to the champions' collective headache.

Trevor Sinclair
Ex-West Ham winger on Football Focus

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Some of the goals Leicester have conceded recently have been ridiculous. Fundamental defensive errors that just didn't happen last season. If they continue not to do the basics well then there's no doubt about it, they will be in the relegation dogfight.

Talk about arriving in style.

West Ham's joint-chairman David Gold pulled up outside the King Power Stadium in a sparkling chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce.

He then emerged wearing a dark tartan suit, clutching a claret scarf to keep him warm. 

Will the Hammers be just as stylish on the pitch?

Image source, PA

Riyad Mahrez returns for Leicester City as Claudio Ranieri responds to his side's 2-0 home defeat to Everton on Boxing Day by making three changes.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater and defender Robert Huth are also back - Marcin Wasilewski, Andy King and Shinji Okazaki all making way.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Chilwell, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton, Slimani, Gray.

Subs: Musa, King, Okazaki, Zieler, Ulloa, Mendy, Fuchs.

Image source, .

West Ham United are on a three-match winning run so it's no surprise that boss Slaven Bilic has named the same side that started the 4-1 win at Swansea City on Boxing Day.

West Ham United: Randolph, Nordtveit, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Antonio, Ayew, Payet, Carroll.

Subs: Feghouli, Lanzini, Adrian, Obiang, Fletcher, Fernandes, Quina.

Image source, .

The bad news for Leicester is that they are running into a West Ham team which has won their last three games.

Slaven Bilic's side started October in the relegation zone but could end 2016 in the top half of the table if they win at the King Power Stadium.

Last time the Hammers won four top flight games in a row? That would be under Sam Allardyce back in February 2014.

Image source, .

Make no mistake, Leicester City are in a relegation scrap just eight months after being crowned champions of England.

They start their final game of 2016 three points above the relegation zone after one win in the past nine outings.

The only reigning champions to be relegated from the top flight were Manchester City in 1937-38. Claudio Ranieri will be desperately trying to avoid the same fate.

They started 2016 second in the Premier League table.

Image source, Rex Features

By early May, 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester City had written one of the most remarkable title stories ever.

Image source, Rex Features

Yet a momentous 2016 is threatening to end on a sour note. The fairytale is in danger of turning into a nightmare as the champions fight for their top-flight lives.

Image source, Rex Features