Leicester City will be seeking nothing but a win when they host a struggling Leeds United at the King Power Stadium.
With only four points separating them, Leicester City and Leeds United will be fancying a win when they take on each other. Leicester are still struggling to get out of the relegation zone as the Foxes have mustered just a solitary win so far.
The home side endured a lacklustre display against Crystal Palace in the last match, and another below-par performance will only pile more pressure on under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers. The one-time Premier League winners need to get out of their skin in an attempt to get a result, and any more slip-ups would be a severe dent to their aspirations.
Leeds were unlucky not to escape with at least a point in their encounter against Arsenal. A Patrick Bamford goal was cancelled by VAR and the Whites frontman then put his spot kick wide as the Gunners ran away with a crucial three points.
Jesse Marsch will be needed a response from his squad as the gaffer is working hard to avoid a consecutive fourth away defeat in the Premier League. They are one point adrift of the drop zone and a win will inject some much-needed belief which could be the bedrock of their future success.
James Maddison has been a shining light on what otherwise has been a disastrous campaign for the Foxes. The English international’s form has helped him get linked him with a number of clubs while the 25-year-old is also on the watch list of Gareth Southgate for a potential callup to the World Cup squad.
Having encountered a relatively good home form, the onus will be on Leeds to put their early disappointment behind them in a bid to register their first away win of the season.
Team News and Tactics
Leicester City
Leicester City’s Premier League record this season:
👕 Played 10
✅ Won 1
🤝 Drawn 2
❌ Lost 7
⚽ Scored 15
🥅 Conceded 24Still searching for consistency. 🔍 pic.twitter.com/LLvVPT8em0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 15, 2022
Leicester City will have to grind out a win without their talismanic midfielder James Maddison. The English international has accumulated five yellow cards and will serve an automatic suspension against Leeds United.
The Foxes will also be without Wilfred Ndidi, Ryan Bertrand and Ricardo Pereira. Jonny Evans is dealing with a calf issue, and Brendan Rodgers will take a late call on his fitness.
Since the departure of Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Ward has taken his place between the sticks he will continue to be the last man in the defence. Wout Faes will pair up with Daniel Amartey in the heart of the Leicester defence, while James Justin and Timothy Castagne will complete the defensive setup.
Boubakary Soumare will be in charge of the midfield department, and he will be assisting in breaking up Leeds’s build-up plays. Marc Albrighton should replace Maddison on the right side of the Leicester attack.
Harvey Barnes has scored in his last five matches against Leeds, and he will be very keen to add some more to his tally. Youri Tielemans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be in the advanced midfield positions. Finally Patson Daka will lead the line for Leicester against Leeds.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Ward; Castagne, Amartey, Faes, Justin; Soumare; Albrighton, Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans, Barnes; Daka
Leeds United
Leeds United’s treatment room is also quite full with a number of casualties. Archie Gray, Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw and Leo Hjelde will not be available to take on Leicester City.
Illan Meslier has emerged as one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in the top flight, and he will try to conquer a rare clean sheet. Liam Cooper and Robin Koch cannot put a foot wrong despite the absence of James Maddison. Pascal Struijk has been decent on the left side of the Leeds defence and should keep his place, while Rasmus Kristensen will start on the opposite side.
A double pivot of Tyler Adams and Marc Roca will be needed as extra protection to thwart any kind of Leicester attack on their home soil.
Jack Harrison has the most number of assists for Leeds and will have another opportunity to inflict some damage on Leicester. Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson will feature in both flanks. Despite not firing in the last match, Patrick Bamford will replace Rodrigo up front.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Aaronson, Harrison, Sinisterra; Bamford
Key Stats
- None of Leicester City’s ten Premier League home games against Leeds United ended as stalemates, with the Foxes winning six and losing four. The Whites have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League games against Leicester, a 2-0 away win in March 2002.
- Leeds have lost each of their last three Premier League away games. They last lost more consecutively in a single top-flight campaign in February 2004.
- Only Manchester City’s Premier League games (43) have seen more goals than Leicester’s this season (39 – F15 A24), despite the Foxes’ last league game ending goalless.
- Leeds are winless in their last six Premier League games (D2 L4), having won three of their previous four before this.
- Harvey Barnes has scored in each of his last five league games against Leeds, netting in all four of his Premier League appearances against the Whites for Leicester.
Player to Watch
Patrick Bamford
Jesse Marsch will unleash Bamford once again as the English striker showed some shrewd intent in Leeds United’s to Arsenal. He had a goal ruled out by VAR and was very unfortunate to put his penalty wide of the goal. Goals have been pretty rare these days, but Bamford does have the ability to end Leeds’s poor run of form.
Prediction
Leicester City 1-2 Leeds United
The absence of James Maddison could be a big advantage for Leeds United. Youri Tielemans has not had a great time on the field. So it seems Leeds United will have the perfect atmosphere to grab their third win this season. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Jesse Marsch’s men.
