Stockport County welcome Leicester City to Edgeley Park in a mouth-watering Second Round tie in 2022-23 Carabao Cup.
Stockport are looking to reach the Third Round of this competition for the first time since 1996-97 season.
Leicester meanwhile are looking to avoid a Second Round exit for the first time since 2014-15 season.
Team News
Macauley Southam-Hales is set to return for Stockport after he was suspended for their defeat at Mansfield on Saturday.
Scott Flinders meanwhile is looking to come into the team having been named as an eventually unused substitute at the weekend.
Leicester manager, Brendan Rogers could rotate his squad ahead of tough league matches against Chelsea and Manchester United, with Caglar Soyuncu, Youri Tielemans and Patson Daka amongst fringe players chasing starts here.
Youngster, George Hirst could also be in contention if Rogers opts to field some players from the Under-21s squad, in order to give more first-team players a rest ahead of their two upcoming league matches.
Wesley Fofana (personal), Ricardo Pereira (Achilles) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) both remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Stockport have lost their only previous League Cup meeting against Leicester – losing 1-0 at King Power Stadium in August 2008.
- Leicester are playing a cup tie away to Stockport County at Edgeley Park for the first time but have won three of their last six visits in all competitions (W3, D2, L1).
- This is only the second cup tie between Stockport and Leicester in all cup competitions.
- Stockport are unbeaten in six of their last eight League Cup matches against Premier League opposition dating back to 1996-97 season (W4, D2, L2).
- Leicester have lost just one of nine League Cup ties against EFL opposition – excluding penalties – since returned to Premier League in 2014-15 season (W7, D1, L1) – losing 1-0 at home to Shrewsbury in August 2014.
Prediction
With League Two survival being Stockport’s priority having struggled to settle back into EFL life with three defeats from four league matches, I am intrigued as to how they approach this game because manager – Dave Challinor could rest players or go all-out attack in hope of causing a cupset.
As for Leicester, I do see plenty of changes coming but after a difficult start to the season where defensive focus has been their downfall amidst decent attacks, defeat simply would be embarrassing here so those who come in to the line-up need to deliver their best to give Rogers a selection headache.
In fact if Leicester can get on the front foot, I can’t see them losing here because Stockport have bigger fish to fry at present than a cup run – regardless of the obvious financial rewards – whereas the Foxes need a result to give them belief heading to Chelsea on Saturday.
Prediction: Stockport County 0-2 Leicester City
Result: Stockport County 0-0 Leicester City (Leicester wins 3-1 on penalties!!)
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