Leicester City vs Burnley
Date: Saturday 2nd December
K.O: 15.00pm
Venue: King Power Stadium
Leicester City host Burnley at the KingPower Stadium on Saturday.
If there has been one team who has performed above their expectations this season, it is Sean Dyche’s Burnley. A 2-1 away win midweek to Bournemouth provided Burnley with another 3 points and a move up to 6th in the Premier League table. It’s all laughs and giggles so far at Burnley this season yet they travel to an in-form Leicester side this weekend, who themselves have come off a successful 2-1 midweek victory.
Leicester seen off Spurs on Tuesday night and they have only lost one game since Claude Puel took charge back in October. Midweeks fixture against Tottenham seen goals from Leicester’s wonder kids, Vardy and Mahrez, and it has been noted that Leicester are playing some impressive football under Puels’ management.
Although, many won’t agree, this for me has to be one of the games of the weekend with two passionate clubs fighting out for 3 points. Back in 2013, this fixture was a top of the table clash in the Championship and a 1-1 score line was the outcome. Now a days, a lot has changed within the match day squads, yet both these clubs have proved that they belong in the Premier League and they are here to stay.
Embed from Getty ImagesBurnley’s away form last campaign, it’s fair to say, was shocking with the club only picking up 7 points on their travels. Yet, recently this away form has undertaken a significant transformation and the Clarets have triumphed on the road against Chelsea, Everton and Southampton and have also taken draws from Tottenham and Liverpool.
Leicester on the other hand enjoy playing at the King Power and it has become quickly recognised as a fortress for the club. With those clap banners and the voice of the Leicester fans, come 3o’clock there will be a thundering noise for the Burnley players to handle.
Leicester team news:
As far as Claude Puel is concerned, he has no fresh new injury concerns with the only long absentees remaining as Matty James and Robert Huth.
In recent weeks Puel has not produced a consistent starting XI with Albrighton and Okazaki being the main ins and outs each week. Midweek seen the disappearance of England youngster, Demari Gray, and after the once again impressive display from Marc Albrighton during the week, Gray will have had to impress in training to warrant a return to the match day starting squad.
The interesting change midweek was the emergence of Ben Chilwell who’s performance against Spurs was sublime. He replaced Christian Fuchs who missed the fixture due to the birth of his Daughter. It is believed that Fuchs is available for this fixture so it will be interesting to see if Puel goes back to experience of chooses youth.
Kelechi Iheanacho was missing due to illness on Tuesday night and will be looking for a match day recall and will be hoping to come on against the Clarets and make an impact as his time at Leicester so far has struggled to really get started.
Burnley team news:
There are two main injury concerns for Burnley boss, Sean Dyche. Steven Defour was withdrawn from the field against Bournemouth due to taking a knock yet Dyche has stated he believes the midfielder will be fit to face the foxes. Matt Lowton missed the midweek fixture and is a 50/50 chance for the trip to the King Power.
Embed from Getty ImagesJon Walters, Dean Marney and Tom Heaton remain absent, however it is believed Marney is close to match day fitness and will return to first team action soon. Chris Wood returned to the starting XI in midweek against Bournemouth and will likely remain up top to face his old club with further changes looking unlikely for Dyche.
Prediction: 2-1 – Leicester impressed in their midweek performance against Spurs and although Burnley’s away performances have been significant this season, I think Leicester will just out do their counterparts at the King Power come 3 o’clock on Saturday.
Written by Eamon Kitching.
