Leicester City VS Stoke City Match Prediction
2018-02-24
12:30:00
Leicester City
VS
Stoke City
Our Prediction Tip
Leicester City will win this match.
2018-02-2412:30:00 Leicester City will win this match.
Stoke have only beaten Leicester once since the Foxes returned to the Premier League in 2014, but three of the last five matches between the two teams have ended in 2-2 draws. All three of those games were at Stoke, however, including the fixture earlier this season. At the King Power Stadium, Leicester have won the last two games to nil. Here are the results of their last five matches:
Nov 04, 2017: Stoke City 2-2 Leicester City
Apr 01, 2017: Leicester City 2-0 Stoke City
Dec 17, 2016: Stoke City 2-2 Leicester City
Jan 23, 2016: Leicester City 3-0 Stoke City
Sep 19, 2015: Stoke City 2-2 Leicester City
Stoke have the worst Premier League record away from home this season, having won just once and taken only six points in all - including losing seven of their last eight away matches in all.
It does not bode well for the trip to Leicester, where they have Jamie Vardy in goalscoring form again and Riyad Mahrez back in the team after his self-imposed absence.
With Wes Morgan fit again in defence too, Claude Puel has almost a full squad to choose from again and they will hope to follow up last week’s FA Cup win with a returning to winning ways in the league too.
Their league form has stuttered in the last few weeks, but one of their defeats was at league leaders Manchester City - Stoke are a very different proposition.
The Potters have not scored in either of their last two visits to the King Power Stadium, and that is unlikely to change on Saturday given their current away form.
Leicester might be big favourites for Saturday's game, but you can still back them at a best price of 3/4 with both William Hill and Betfair.
Having won both their last two previous home matches to nil against Stoke, meanwhile, it could be worth backing another Leicester win to nil on Saturday at 19/10 with William Hill.
Similarly, you can bet against both teams to score at evens with William Hill and Betfair.
Jamie Vardy has five goals in his last five appearances, and has scored all four of Leicester’s last four goals too - he is 11/10 with Ladbrokes to score at any time or 7/2 with Bet365 to score first.
Leicester made a decent start to 2018, and while that has faltered slightly they should be getting back to winning ways on Saturday. Stoke have the league's worst defensive record and worst away record - Jamie Vardy should be relishing the match as he looks to continue his good goalscoring form.
After starting in the FA Cup win at home to Sheffield United, Riyad Mahrez is set for his first Premier League start since Manchester City's transfer bid for the Algerian was rejected at the end of the transfer window. Wes Morgan also returned from injury in that game, and is set to continue alongside Harry Maguire, but Vicente Iborra - who started in midfield - is likely to drop back to the bench to accommodate Adrien Silva.
Jamie Vardy has scored Leicester's last four goals, and individually has five in his last five matches. The return of Riyad Mahrez, after he missed training following a rejected transfer request amid interest from Premier League leaders Manchester City at the end of the transfer window, was a huge boost for the Foxes - he has eight goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season.
Leicester's unbeaten start to 2018 ended when they lost 2-1 away at Everton at the end of January, and they followed that with a 1-1 draw at home to Swansea and a 5-1 thrashing away at Manchester City. They bounced back to earn a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals last week, however, when Jamie Vardy's goal was enough to see off Sheffield United.
Stephen Ireland's rotten luck with injuries has continued - the Irish midfielder is now out with a calf injury, after previously missing two years of action with a broken leg. Though due back in training, it is unlikely he will be rushed back into action and risk further injuries. Peter Crouch missed the game against Brighton two weeks ago, but will compete with Mame Diouf for a starting spot up front.
Xherdan Shaqiri's goal against Brighton took him to six for the season. In a disappointing campaign for Stoke, no other player has scored more. Shaqiri also leads the way when it comes to assists with six - one more than both Eric Chuopo-Moting and Joe Allen.
Stoke have won just one of the nine matches they have played since Christmas in all competitions, and are without a win in their last three games. Out of the FA Cup, they have not played since a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton a fortnight ago, while they lost their most recent away game 2-1 at Bournemouth. In fact, away from home they have lost seven of their last eight games.
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