A true test of Leicester City’s purple patch awaits them at the King Power Stadium this Saturday lunchtime, as Premier League champions Manchester City pay a visit.
Brendan Rodgers’s side convincingly beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 last weekend, while City were held to a goalless draw in the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund.
TEAM NEWS
Rodgers has received a major fitness boost with the return of Wilfred Ndidi to training this week, but Jonny Evans is a bit more uncertain. Ryan Bertrand and Ricardo Pereira remain out for the long-term.
Changes will certainly be kept to a minimum this week, but Patson Daka was replaced on the 61-minute mark against Wolves by Vardy, whose late strike was his 100th in the Premier League since his 30th birthday.
Vardy’s penchant for goals against the Big Six clubs is also well-documented – scoring eight against Man City – and he could be the only alteration to the hosts’ starting lineup this week.
Returning players have been the theme for Leicester, but it is the opposite for Man City, as Haaland suffered from a combination of fatigue, illness and a foot injury before being taken off at half time against former employers Dortmund.
The Norwegian was then seen limping into a medical facility for further examination, but Man City are reportedly confident that he has avoided anything serious, and Guardiola affirmed at his pre-game press conference that the striker was feeling better. Nevertheless, Julian Alvarez is on standby if 17-goal Haaland is not risked from the start.
Joao Cancelo was also able to play just 45 minutes due to illness, but his chances of starting at the King Power are seemingly better than Haaland’s, while Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker are both still absent, and Sergio Gomez is available again after a Champions League ban.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Castagne, Faes, Amartey, Justin; Soumare; Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes; Vardy
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Akanji, Laporte; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish
PREDICTION
We say: Leicester City 1-2 Manchester City
