Leicester City welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to King Power Stadium in a huge clash in the race for a top ten finish.
Victory would return Leicester to tenth and put Brendan Rogers’ Foxes a point behind Brighton, whereas their visitors will stay ninth with a win and move to within two points of eighth-placed Wolves.
Team News
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could feature for Leicester after being substituted in the Foxes’ midweek defeat to Tottenham as a precaution in his first match back from a calf injury.
Daniel Amartey could also feature after returning from international duty but Nampalys Mendy, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are still away on international duty at 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ricardo Pereira (shin), Ryan Bertrand (knee), Wesley Fofana (leg), Jonny Evans, Timothy Castagne and Jamie Vardy (all thigh) are ruled out.
Brighton could welcome Lewis Dunk back from a knee injury which has kept the defender out since early December.
Shane Duffy (ankle), Yves Bissouma (international duty), Jason Steele (back), Enock Mwepu, Adam Lallana and Jeremy Sarmiento (both hamstring) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Leicester have won eight of nine previous Premier League meetings against Brighton (W6, D2, L1).
- Brighton have claimed just one point from four previous Premier League visits to Leicester (D1, L3).
- Leicester have conceded just one goal in four home Premier League clashes against Brighton.
- Kelechi Iheanacho has produced more assists than any other Leicester player coming into this matchweek this season, having created four assists in 14 league appearances.
- No Brighton player this season has made more headed clearances than Shane Duffy, with Duffy having made 49 headed clearances in 14 league appearances.
Prediction
Having endured a difficult season where defending has been their biggest weakness – especially in Wednesday’s injury-time defeat to Tottenham after twice leading, Leicester simply can’t afford to lose this game if they want to chase European qualification.
Brighton meanwhile are an enjoyable team yet their attack is their biggest frustration because they waste so many chances, which was evident by their dominance against Crystal Palace last weekend yet they only scored once which is poor in all honesty.
King Power Stadium meanwhile has been Brighton’s bogey ground in the Premier League so my gut instinct say that their fans could be in for further frustration, yet Leicester’s defence is there for the taking if clinical enough so I am punting for a scrappy draw.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Brighton
Result: Leicester 1-1 Brighton
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