Premier League preview and odds: Leicester City vs Stoke City

Published on: 21/01/2016

Premier League preview and odds: Leicester City vs Stoke City

January 23, 2016 15:00pm - King Power Stadium

Premier League

Leicester City will be out to prove that their Premier League bubble has not burst when they welcome European qualification chasers Stoke City to the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Just one win in five for Leicester

Leicester City`s much-predicted blip finally seems to have happened. The club has won just one of their last five Premier League fixtures and were dumped out of the FA Cup by Spurs in midweek.

Despite their slight downturn in form, the Foxes remain level on points with Arsenal at the top of the league table and are still in the title race.

While they seem to have improved defensively in recent weeks, Claudio Ranieri`s men are struggling for goals. Top scorers Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have both hit dry spells, with neither having netted since Christmas. If both players can get back in the scoring habit, then Leicester could pose a genuine threat to their title rivals.

Stoke with Euro ambitions

With just one defeat in their last five games, Stoke City have established the kind of consistency needed to challenge for the European qualification places.

Last weekend they secured a point at home to league leaders Arsenal, and they must now pit their wits against second-ranked Leicester City. On their last away trip, Mark Hughes` team were defeated 2-1 by West Bromwich Albion.

The Potters have the fifth-best defence in the league but only four teams have scored less goals.

Team news

Long-term absentee Matthew James remains the only injury worry for Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Stoke will be without Geoff Cameron (ankle), Xherdan Shaqiri (hamstring), Phil Bardsley (groin) and Stephen Ireland (hamstring).

Recent form (League)

Leicester City: DWDDL

Stoke City: DWLWW

Betting odds and tips

Claudio Ranieri rested some key players in the FA Cup replay against Spurs, and is clearly prioritising the league campaign as his team goes in search of European football. The Foxes have had a poor spell by their own re-calibrated standards, but have still only been beaten twice in the league all season.

Stoke have won just one of their last four away games and will do well to take anything from their trip to the King Power Stadium.

Back the home team to Win to Nil at 12/5 with PaddyPower. A correct score of 1-0 to the home side, also looks like a good bet at 6/1 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 21/01/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (21/01/2016 13:41:09) but are subject to change.