Leicester City will be travelling to Selhurst Park for their Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening. They are on a disappointing run in the league currently, having collected just a point out of their last 3 league ties.
Claude Puel will definitely look to the Thai owners of the club for more financial backing in the summer window but for the time being, will have to work with what he has got. The Foxes look dazed and less enthusiastic ever since Burnley started to upstage them in the European qualification spot.
City have improved upon their previous season’s 12th place finish but still have ways to go before they can return to Premier League challenging status. That might be an unrealistic task given the competition that has developed in the upper tiers with all the elite sides spending astronomical amounts.
Leicester are troubled with the dissettlement with some of their key players. Riyad Mahrez is the first name that comes to mind who underwent a sulking phase when the transfer to Manchester City fell through in the dying minutes of the January transfer window.
Defender, Harry Maguire is also attracting a lot of attention from the top Premier League sides and will be hard to tie down if a favourable offer comes in.
Puel’s work will be cut out against a relegation-riddled Crystal Palace outfit who are high on spirits after the 3-2 win over Brighton And Hove Albion and the 0-0 draw against Watford.
Here is how Leicester City might lineup on game day.
Predicted Formation: 4-4-1-1
Defence
Kasper Schmeichel might start in between the sticks ahead of Eldin Jakupovic and Ben Hammer. The Danish international is averaging 3 saves in the league this season and has 9 clean sheets to his name.
Danny Simpson is the predicted starter on the right with Daniel Amartey still nursing that hamstring injury. A surprise start for Marc Albrighton cannot be ruled out either.
Ben Chilwell might get the nod on the left back role.
Wes Morgan to mark his return to the starting lineup and feature alongside Maguire in the centre back roles.
Midfield
Adrien Silva and Wilfred Ndidi are predicted starters in the central midfield positions. Vicente Iborra’s return from thigh injury is anticipated but it is unlikely that he will start.
The flanks might get covered by Riyad Mahrez on the right and Albrighton on the left.
Attack
Jamie Vardy is the starting number nine.
Shinji Okazaki is set to return to team selection as well but Demarai Gray is the predicted starter in the shadow striker role.
