Ipswich Town host Leicester City at Portman Road in a festive blockbuster top of Sky Bet Championship showdown.
Victory would see Ipswich stay second but move back to within three points of league leaders – Leicester, whilst Enzo Maresca’s Foxes will stay top regardless of the result but a win will extend their title lead to nine points.
Team News
Ipswich have no fresh injury concerns to report after their defeat at Leeds, as Janoi Donacien (groin) and Lee Evans (knee) remain absent.
Leicester could welcome Callum Doyle back into contention after he spent the last three months sidelined with a knee injury.
Kasey McAteer (hamstring), Will Alves, Wanya Macal (both muscle) Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy (knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Ipswich host Leicester at Portman Road in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday 26 Decembr, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Ipswich have claimed four points in their last seven meetings against Leicester (W1, D1, L5).
- Leicester are unbeaten in three of their last six visits to Ipswich (W2, D1, L3).
- Jamie Vardy is the sole Leicester player still at the club from their last meeting against Ipswich, which the Foxes won 3-0 in February 2014.
- Wes Burns has scored in each of his last two home appearances for Ipswich (W1, D1).
- Leicester have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven away matches (W5, D1, L1).
Prediction
Sat six points adrift of the summit after a toothless display at Leeds where they were outclassed across the entire pitch with no shots on target, Ipswich really need to deliver an immediate reaction and try and learn to quickly switch up their tactics when the opposition play a fierce press.
Leicester meanwhile produced a resiliently mature performance where patience and clinical end product proved enough to beat Rotherham, which might just stand them in good stead if Ipswich look to press high in their faces but the Foxes should have the quality to withstand that pressure.
Add in the fact that this is a top of table clash then the stakes are raised in front of what should be a thunderous home crowd, but Leicester do look comfortable and unstoppable at present unlike Ipswich’s wobbly defence due to the hosts’ high-press style.
Ipswich though have lost just twice at home in all competitions this season so I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a scrappy encounter, with a draw possibly suiting both teams given the likelihood of squad rotation in this hectic period.
Prediction: Ipswich 1-1 Leicester
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