Soccer News

Leicester City vs Crystal Palace match build up

TEAM NEWS

Marc Albrighton and Daniel Amartey are long-term absentees. James Maddison and Ben Chilwell are fitness doubts for Leicester but Nampalys Mendy is available after missing the defeat by Spurs.

Crystal Palace defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Martin Kelly have been ruled out because of injuries.

Wilfried Zaha returns after a two-match ban, while Cheikhou Kouyate and James Tomkins recovered from injuries to make the bench at Doncaster last Sunday.

Roy Hodgson will become the oldest manager in Premier League history on Saturday, aged 71 years and 198 days.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Leicester vs Crystal Palace

Martin Fisher: Roy Hodgson’s longevity is incredible and, at 71, his passion for the game is remarkable. Certainly, speaking to him after matches is always enlightening.

The romantics among us would love to see him win the FA Cup but the man himself knows that would be a hollow triumph unless coupled with Premier League survival.

Palace are just three points above the relegation zone and until they convert a greater percentage of their chances that gap won’t widen.

Leicester might be above Palace in the table but they’re not in a happier place. Five defeats in six, including an FA Cup exit at Newport, means the pressure is mounting on Claude Puel. Yet again.

VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Peter Schmeichel’s claim that his son Kasper wants to leave the club: “I have had a discussion with Kasper, not just about this but different things.

“I was happy about our discussion because I know I can count on him because he understands the project and where we are at this moment. He is happy to continue this project.

“I’m sorry but I cannot manage other people outside the club.”

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “When you watch Sir David Attenborough working and see his documentaries on TV, you’d have to be a very strange person to start saying ‘I don’t think it’s very good because he’s old’.

“Most of us think he’s very, very good, whatever age he happens to be. That gives me the encouragement in football; why should it be any different to TV broadcasting, or documentary-making?

“It’s an achievement I can be happy about – if you call getting old and still being in a job an achievement.”

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

There always seems to be speculation over the future of Claude Puel, and he really needs to return to winning ways here.

A lot depends on Puel’s line-up – and whether Jamie Vardy starts this time – but I actually quite fancy Leicester here.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro’s full predictions

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • Crystal Palace have won each of the past three Premier League meetings, by an aggregate score of 9-0.
  • Leicester lost the corresponding fixture 3-0 last season but have never lost consecutive top-flight home games against Crystal Palace.

Leicester City

  • The Foxes are in danger of equalling the club Premier League record of four successive home defeats, set from December 1999 to January 2000 at Filbert Street.
  • Leicester have only taken one point from their past five league games. They have not gone six matches without a top-flight win since October 2017.
  • They could suffer three league defeats in a row, which last happened two years ago under Claudio Ranieri.
  • Claude Puel’s side have conceded the opening goal in a league-high 18 matches this season.
  • Jamie Vardy has only scored two league goals at the King Power Stadium this season, with none in the last four games.
  • Jonny Evans is poised to make his 250th Premier League appearance.

Crystal Palace

  • Palace are vying to go four matches unbeaten in the league for the first time this season.
  • The Eagles have kept nine Premier League clean sheets, the fifth best record in the division.
  • Two thirds of their away league goals this season have come in away fixtures, a higher ratio than any other top-flight side.
  • Christian Benteke has scored in each of his past three Premier League games against Leicester. The Belgian has never scored in four consecutive appearances against an opponent.
  • Wilfried Zaha could score in three successive league appearances for the first time.
  • Roy Hodgson will be aged 71 years and 198 days on Saturday, making him the oldest person to take charge of a Premier League game.

Source: BBC News