Bottom Club Leicester Favourites For Stoke Clash

Leicester City could escape the relegation zone on Saturday should they be able to continue their solid run of results and pick up a win against mid-table Stoke at home. The Foxes are currently unbeaten in their last three Premier League games whilst also managing to grab a victory at home to Newcastle United in the FA Cup. Stoke, on the other hand, succumbed to a 3-0 defeat away at Arsenal last weekend to halt their own run of three successive league games without a loss. Like tomorrow`s opponents, the side also progressed through to the fourth round of the FA Cup by seeing off Conference club Wrexham 3-1.

There was nothing comfortable about that game, however, the Potters having to come back from 1-0 down to net three times in the closing ten minutes. Marko Arnautovic levelled up after Mark Carrington`s 73rd minute opener before Stephen Ireland grabbed a late brace to steal the win.

Perhaps as a result of this closely run clash, and the Midlands side`s thumping at the hands of Arsenal, it is Leicester who are the favourites for victory at home. Both bet365 and betfred have priced the King Power Stadium outfit up at 13/8 whilst an away win is available at 2/1 with a trio of bookmakers (Betvictor, boylesports, Coral). A draw can be backed at 12/5 (betfred, Totesport).

When the two teams met at the beginning of September, it was the then away side who returned to Leicester with the three points. Top scorer Leonardo Ulloa netted in the 64th minute to provide the club with their first win of the season.

Betway are offering odds of 6/5 on the result being secured by a one goal margin again. Argentine Ulloa is available to be backed at 11/2 with a number of bookmakers to once again grab the first goal against the Potters. The 28-year-old former Brighton man also scored the only goal in his side`s 1-0 win over Newcastle a fortnight ago and is just coming into form.

Last weekend saw centre-half Paul Konchesky score the only goal in Leicester`s win over Aston Villa in the league. These two wins have turned the club`s home results around with Nigel Pearson`s men having been unable to find the winning formula in their three December games at the King Power.

Mark Hughes` Stoke, who could move into tenth place and above Newcastle with a victory, have a five match away formcard that reads LLDWL, their only win coming against floundering European hopefuls Everton. A Bojan Krkic penalty was all that was needed to topple the Blues at Goodison Park on Boxing Day. The Spaniard is 13/4 with 888sport and unibet to net again away from home.

His side will be hoping to take advantage of something of a crisis in the Foxes` camp, after a red card shown to midfielder Matty James in last weekend`s Villa clash has left City somewhat short of numbers in the middle of the park.

This dismissal has left Pearson with only two fit central midfielders following the injuries to Esteban Cambiasso (thigh) and Dean Hammond (calf). As a result, Danny Drinkwater and Andy King are expected to start.

Leicester will also be without first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (foot) and ex-Potters man Matthew Upson who is yet to make an appearance for his club after also suffering a foot injury.

There is good news, however, in that new £9 million signing Andrej Kramaric may receive his work permit in time to at least take to the bench.

The away side may well be able to welcome back Victor Moses from injury but will be without Steven N`Zonzi and Erik Pieters (both groin). Mame Biram Diouf is on international duty with Senegal and will not be available for selection.

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16/01/2015     © Frixo 2026