Leicester City’s return to the Premier League has been a challenging one, with the team currently sitting in 19th place, just two points away from safety. They have struggled to find their footing, managing only one win in their last 12 league games, along with two draws and nine defeats.
Recent setbacks include heavy losses to Newcastle (4-0), Wolverhampton (3-0), Liverpool (3-1), Manchester City (2-0), and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Last weekend, Leicester faced Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, holds 15th place in the table, with a five-point cushion above the relegation zone. While still at risk, the London club has shown improvement since late November. Over their last nine matches, they have suffered only one loss, against Arsenal, while securing three wins and five draws. Notable results include a 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Southampton and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Last weekend, Palace hosted Stockport County in the FA Cup.
Leicester faces several key absences this week, including first-choice goalkeeper Hermansen, midfielder Ndidi, wingers Fatawu and McAteer, and backup full-back Ricardo Pereira. However, there are positives, with Mavididi, who has three league goals and scored in their last match, pushing for a starting spot. Buonanotte, with four goals and two assists, and veteran striker Vardy, with six goals and three assists, are also likely to feature.
Crystal Palace is also dealing with injuries, with midfielders Wharton and Hugues unavailable, along with long-term absentee Matheus França. Despite these setbacks, their attack remains strong, led by Mateta, the team’s top scorer with five goals, supported by Eze, who has two goals and three assists, and Sarr, who has contributed four goals and two assists.
Prediction
Leicester’s home form has been poor, with four losses in their last five Premier League matches at the King Power Stadium. In contrast, Crystal Palace has shown good form against league rivals and enters this match as the favorite.
Prediction: Leicester 0-2 Crystal Palace
