When they play Crystal Palace at home on Saturday afternoon, Leicester City will be hoping to get themselves off the bottom of the Premier League standings. The match will take place at the King Power Stadium.
After nine games played so far this season, the Eagles are five points ahead of the Foxes and sitting in 15th position, while the Foxes are now three points below the safety zone.
Our Match Preview: Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
Leicester fans believed their 4-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest would spark a much-needed strong run of form, but they lost 2-1 at Bournemouth last weekend.
Patson Daka put the Foxes ahead in the 10th minute at the Vitality Stadium, but Philip Billing and Ryan Christie immediately turned the game around, putting further pressure on Brendan Rodgers.
Many supporters are asking for the Northern Irishman to be fired, and the club had to refund all birthday announcements for Saturday’s game after getting requests like ‘Zak Rodgers’ and ‘Brenda Nout’ Leicester has struggled to cling onto leads this season and has lost four games.
After scoring first – only Aston Villa and Southampton (both five) have lost more in a single Premier League season. No club has lost more Premier League points from winning situations than Leicester (35) since last season.
Leicester is bottom of the standings and three points from safety. They have won all four of their Premier League points at home this season. Leicester has won its previous three home league games against Crystal Palace, including 2-1 last season.
Crystal Palace halted a four-game winless streak by beating Leeds United 2-1 last weekend.
Pascal Struijk gave the visitors the lead, but Odsonne Edouard equalized for the Eagles. Eberechi Eze scored the winner in the closing 15 minutes to give Patrick Vieira’s side their second league win.
Having already faced four of the so-called top-six clubs this season and failing to win on each occasion, Vieira will not be too concerned with his side’s position in the table.
But an upturn in form is now to be expected with a favorable-looking set of fixtures ahead until mid-November when the league halts for the World Cup.
Palace is undefeated in their previous 12 Premier League matches against relegation-zone opponents, although they haven’t beaten Leicester in six since a 4-1 triumph in February 2019.
Wilfried Zaha has scored (seven) and assisted (nine) more Premier League goals against Leicester than any other opponent.
Our Team News: Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
Timothy Castagne suffered an injury to his eye socket during Leicester’s game against Bournemouth, which could force Rodgers to make at least one change to the team that he is coaching for Leicester.
As a result of Castagne’s injury, James Justin could be moved to right-back, and Luke Thomas could be recalled to the starting lineup at left-back.
In addition, Wilfred Ndidi (thigh), Ricardo Pereira (Achilles), and Ryan Bertrand (knee) are all still out due to their respective injuries. Nampalys Mendy is questionable to play due to a knee injury as well.
After spending the last game on the bench, Jamie Vardy is expected to make a strong case for starting in the offensive position ahead of Daka. Meanwhile, in-form playmaker James Maddison is expected to continue playing wide right, while Harvey Barnes will operate on the other wing.
Nathaniel Clyne (ankle), James McArthur (groin), Jack Butland (wrist), Nathan Ferguson (foot), and Chris Richards (leg) are all still out with injuries for Crystal Palace. As a result of the fact that it is doubtful that Vieira will make too many changes.
If any at all, to the team that defeated Leeds the previous Saturday, Jeffrey Schlupp may continue to start at left back in place of Tyrick Mitchell. Jordan Ayew, Edouard, and Zaha might all hold their positions in attack, while Jean-Philippe Mateta will be pushing to start.
Eze, Cheick Doucoure, and Michael Olise are expected to stay in the center of the field as the central midfielders. Michael Olise is poised to continue as the central defender.
- Leicester City possible starting lineup: Ward, Justin, Evans, Faes, Thomas; Soumare, Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes, Vardy.
- Crystal Palace possible starting lineup: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Schlupp, Olise, Doucoure, Eze, Ayew, Edouard, Zaha.
Our Prediction: Leicester City 1-2 Crystal Palace
The underperforming team managed by Rodgers is under increasing amounts of pressure, and if they were to suffer another loss on Saturday, they would move even farther away from safety. Crystal Palace has scored in 11 of their last 13 Premier League games, and we can see them taking advantage of Leicester’s fragile backline to score, with Vieira’s side edging out the Foxes to win all three points. Crystal Palace has scored in 11 of their last 13 games in the Premier League.
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