Leicester City can secure the EFL Championship title if they beat Preston North End on Monday.
Enzo Maresca and Leicester City have already assured themselves of a spot in next season’s Premier League and will now travel to Preston North End with a keen eye on securing the title.
The Foxes have seen their form fall by the wayside since February. But a run of two consecutive wins combined with poor results for Ipswich Town and Leeds United have resurrected the title bid. Securing three points on the night will see Maresca and Co. cement the top spot with one game to spare.
Preston North End, meanwhile, are currently in the tenth spot and have no chance of securing a playoff spot this season. They will now hope to play for pride in a clash that will have little impact on them this season.
Leicester City’s journey to secure the title has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by moments of pressure and resilience. Despite facing challenges in recent weeks, they have shown their mettle with two contrasting performances that propelled them closer to their goal.
The narrow victory over West Brom showcased Leicester’s ability to grind out results when needed, breaking a streak of narrow defeats and demonstrating their determination to succeed. This hard-fought win set the stage for their dominant display against Southampton, where they delivered a resounding 5-0 victory, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
The unexpected result of Queens Park Rangers defeating Leeds United provided Leicester with a significant advantage in the title race, allowing them to watch from a more relaxed position as the drama unfolded. With Ipswich Town’s result against Hull City on Saturday potentially shaping the title race, Leicester’s upcoming match against Preston North End takes on added importance.
The home side, meanwhile, were also in contention for promotion. However, a poor run of form at the crunch time has once again cost them dear. As they prepare to face Leicester City, Preston North End’s aspirations for the remainder of the season are tempered by the reality of their current form. While eighth place represents their best-case scenario, there is still a risk of dropping down to 12th in the table. This uncertainty underscores the importance of securing a positive result in their upcoming fixture to salvage their campaign and end the season on a high note.
The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the game and their tactics.
Team News & Tactics
Preston North End
Preston North End will be without Ali McCann, Brad Potts, and Ben Whiteman for the game and Ryan Lowe could check out some of his players in preparation for the 2024/25 season. This could see Layton Stewart get an opportunity.
The home side are likely to go in with a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Freddie Woodman in goal. He should be protected by a back three of Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay and Andrew Hughes.
Alan Browne and Ryan Ledson should hold the fort in central midfield, with Robbie Brady and Liam Millar providing the width down the flanks. Another former Liverpool man, Ben Woodburn should make way for Mads Frøkjær-Jensen in the attacking midfield berths.
Will Keane and Layton Stewart should start upfront, at the head of the Preston attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Browne, Ledson, Brady; Frokjaer-Jensen; Stewart, Keane
Leicester City
Enzo Maresca has a fully-fit squad to select from ahead of the trip to the North-West as he aims to deliver the coup-de-grace in what has been a hard-fought EFL campaign.
Leicester City are expected to line up in 1 4-3-3 formation, with Mads Hermansen in goal, behind the back four of Ricardo Pereira, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, and James Justin.
Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi will form the double pivot, freeing up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to push forward as the number 10. Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi should provide the width, with veteran striker Jamie Vardy leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi
Key Stats
- Preston North End last defeated Leicester City in 2009. Since then, they have drawn one and lost three to the Foxes.
- In the last six away trips to Preston, Leicester City have not lost a single game.
- Neither side have scored more than once each in the last six games played against each other in Preston.
- A loss on the night will see Preston North End suffer four consecutive losses in the league for the first time since 2019.
- A win on the night will see Leicester equal their club record of 14 away wins in a campaign, a tally they have achieved twice before- in 2008/09 and 2013/14.
Player to Watch
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Dewsbury-Hall’s importance to Leicester City cannot be overstated, especially in a crucial match like Monday’s encounter. As the linchpin between midfield and attack, he holds the key to unlocking the Preston defence and creating scoring opportunities for the Foxes.
His ability to advance possession and orchestrate attacks makes him a pivotal force in Leicester’s Championship campaign. If he can effectively dictate the tempo of the game, Leicester will have a strong chance of securing a positive result.
The midfielder has 13 goal contributions in 15 away games this season in the Championship. However, he has failed to add to that tally in the last seven games. There is no better time than now for him to rediscover that touch.
Prediction
Preston North End 0-2 Leicester City
Despite having already guaranteed promotion, Leicester City will have their eye on the prize this Monday. With one final pushed expected, the Foxes should overwhelm Preston North End thanks to their superior quality and depth. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 2-0 win for the visitors.
