Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leicester City
Date: 24/11/2018
K/O: 15:00
Venue: The Amex
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Brighton return to the Amex this weekend following two successive defeats on their travels as they welcome a Leicester City side looking to bounce back after their disappointing 0-0 draw at the King Power last time out.
It has been almost a month since the passing of Leicester chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and after the exceptional efforts of the club in remembering their beloved owner, the focus now turns to football once more and picking up results.
Since losing to the Foxes last time out in March, Brighton have only lost once in their last eight home Premier League games. Key to this is star man Glenn Murray who has scored five goals in his last five home Premier League games. Despite this, the English striker has faced Leicester more often without scoring than any other opponent in English league football, drawing a blank in their past seven fixtures. The Foxes are aiming to keep a third successive clean sheet and extend a three-match unbeaten run and will be hopeful of keeping Murray out. Puel’s side will also hope to get back to scoring goals as only once this season have his side have failed to find the back of the net; last time out against Burnley.
Head to Head:
The Foxes and the Seagulls are neck and neck in their head to head record with both sides victorious on 13 occasions with five draws. Leicester will be more confident going into the fixture though as both recent Premier League fixtures have ended in a 2-0 win for the Foxes.
Team News
Brighton & Hove Albion
Due to Dale Stephens’ red card in Wales he will be sidelined for the fixture with Yves Bissouma likely to take his place. Despite this, there is extremely positive news ahead of the visit of Leicester for the Seagulls and Chris Hughton. Last season’s star man, Pascal Groß, has not featured for the Albion since September 1st but is set to return to the matchday squad. The German midfielder may not start from the off at the Amex but if needed then Hughton will not waste any opportunity to get him on the field.
Davy Pröpper, who has also been suffering from an ankle injury of late, is also fit after missing the last four matches. Winger Jahanbakhsh, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Cardiff with a hamstring issue, is set to miss out after missing Iran’s two friendly internationals during the break.
Leicester City
The fitness of striker Jamie Vardy will be tested before Saturday’s trip to the south coast after the 31-year-old missed several days of training with a groin injury. Vardy did return to training this week and will be hoping to be fit for the game against Brighton. As for Harry Maguire, the England international missed the Foxes last fixture vs Burnley after picking up an injury almost four weeks ago vs Cardiff. The central defender is yet to return to training and Jonny Evans is set to continue alongside Wes Morgan at the back.
Fellow England international James Maddison also missed Leicester’s fixture vs Burnley yet has recovered faster than his teammate and will be available for the trip to the Amex. Rachid Ghezzal, similarly to Vardy, is a doubt after picking up a leg injury; he has since had a scan and will be assessed before the weekend. Daniel Amartey remains sidelined after his serious ankle injury which he suffered in the fixture against West Ham.
Predicted Starting XI’s
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Bissouma, Pröpper, Izquierdo; March; Murray
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Evans, Chilwell; Ndidi, Mendy; Albrighton, Maddison, Gray; Vardy
Score Prediction: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Leicester 2
Claude Puel’s side did the double over Brighton last season and they will look to pick up another win over the Seagulls as they look to challenge for the European spots. Hughton’s men have done well at home this season though and it will be a challenging afternoon for Puel’s side.
