Leicester City go into the weekend with almost a must-win match looming large on the horizon. The Foxes have been dismal in their Premier League title defence and have failed to move out of 1st gear. Their UCL campaign has avoided their season being already branded as a preposterous one and the near-flawless nature of their Champions League run has kept the flicker of hope alive in the fans and people associated with the club.
Their mainstays of last season- Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have flattered to deceive this time around and the nature of their descent has been a real shock for them.
Leicester will be facing a similarly stricken Sunderland outfit who have simply collapsed this season. Rooted near the bottom, they must now build on their couple of wins which they had notched up before the 2-0 loss against Liverpool. Moyes will be knowing it is probably the time when he will be evaluated on a match-by-match basis and a win against an underperforming Leicester City side will be a good bet to start the effect.
Although Leicester are the reigning Champions and Sunderland are in the relegation zone, seemingly destined for the drop, the match is expected to be a close contest between the two sides.
TEAM NEWS
SUNDERLAND
Sebastian Larsson could make his first appearance of the season for Sunderland after recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Jan Kirchhoff, who has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury in October, could also return.
Fabio Borini, Lee Cattermole, Paddy McNair, Lynden Gooch and Jack Rodwell are all out.
LEICESTER CITY
Leicester have no fresh injury concerns as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel remains sidelined with a hand injury.
Left-back Ben Chilwell has returned to training and might be in contention while Danny Drinkwater remains suspended.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3)
Pickford; Jones; Djilobodji, Kone; Van Aanholt; Pienaar, N’dong, Denayer; Anichebe, Defoe, Watmore
LEICESTER CITY (4-4-2)
Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Amartey, King, Musa; Slimani, Vardy
KEY MEN
SUNDERLAND
JERMAIN DEFOE
Already up to 7 goals and 2 assists in 13 games for a team rooted to the bottom of the league till a week back, this has been an amazing start for him. Not getting any younger, he has defied his age and has churned out goals and for a second season running, has been the Black Cats’ best player.
LEICESTER CITY
RIYAD MAHREZ
The Algerian has flattered to deceive after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year last season and his lack of end product has been hampering the Foxes. But with the talent at his disposal, he can turn up the heat anytime and this is something Sunderland have to plan for accordingly.
BETTING ODDS
SUNDERLAND- 12/5
DRAW- 12/5
LEICESTER CITY- 13/10
