Jamie Vardy vs Sebastian Prodl
Walter Mazzarri is dangerously short at the back now, and with Miguel Britos also adding to the long injury list last game against Liverpool makes it all the more difficult to stop an in-form Jamie Vardy in the next game.
The English forward has found a new lease of life under Craig Shakespeare in the second half of the season. The manager has relieved him from most of his defensive duties and he now plays in a more advanced position at the top. It seems to have brought back his poaching instincts to life again, just like last year. Vardy has now scored 12 goals and registered five goals in the 31 league outings.
From the Watford side, Sebastian Prodl is the only feasible option left in the centre-half, who could stop Leicester’s star striker at the moment. The 29-year-old Austrian international has been quite a regular under the Italian boss playing 31 games so far. Although he had arrived on the back of solid reputation from the Bundesliga in 2015, he has had a largely underwhelming stint in England. Winning only 46% of his average duels, Watford looks to have lost the game in this battle itself.
M’Baye Niang vs Christian Fuchs
Limited options at the back has led Mazzarri to start with a more offensive approach against the Reds. The AC Milan loanee, who has earned quite a name for him since joining on loan last January, was started alongside skipper Troy Deeney. However, he looked quite uncomfortable there owing to lack of deliveries from the midfield.
However, we expect him to start on the flanks this time and do what he does best; inject pace. The French international didn’t live up to the hype he once had created with some promising displays and it’s time he does justice to it. His brilliant burst of pace and supreme physicality is difficult for any defender to handle.
Leicester will have their disciplined general Fuchs, to take care of him. In the post-Ranieri age, the Austrian full-back has been at his peak. His solid presence helped the Foxes see off Sevilla in the Champions League and the manager would trust him to get the job done this time.
Riyad Mahrez vs Daryl Janmaat
The Algerian winger was a rage last season and quite expectedly, faded away this season. But, it didn’t happen without some flashes of brilliance. Though he was very quiet in the Premier League, he showed his efficacy in the Champions League. And Watford being one of his favourite opponents against whom he scored in both the previous league fixtures, he would like to continue it that way.
Janmaat is one of the rare players in the Hornets side, who could reach to heights under the right team, but has seen himself being wasted at the club with negative gameplay. His intelligent gameplay and offensive attributes make him tricky for Mahrez to go all out on that flank.
