Leicester vs Crystal Palace Prediction Preview

Josh Ingram is on hand to oversee a Leicester vs Crystal Palace prediction preview at the King Power as Leicester tries to stem the flow of losses. Crystal Palace are the visitors, impressing in their past few games, where they’ve consistently picked up points, unlike their hosts. It looks like it could be too big of a task for the Dutchman at the helm in Leicester as his side are winless in five and staring into the black hole of relegation.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Eagles to hurt the fragile Foxes

England, Premier League, Wednesday, January 15th, 19:30 (UK)

Ruud Van Nistelrooy has not found it easy in the Premier League since taking charge of the former Premier League champions. They have lost five league games on the spin, conceding 16 and only finding the net twice. This is not sustainable for a side amid a relegation battle. A single win against mid-table Championship side QPR in the FA Cup, even though they won 6-2, won’t change many minds that he might not be cut out for a relegation scrap. Their xG accumulated across these five losses has been 3.04xG, an average of 0.61xG per90, a drop from their season average of 0.97xG per90. 

Palace arrives after losing one Premier League game in the last nine – a far cry from the poor form that saw them in the bottom three in the opening weeks. Since the 5-1 drubbing at home to the Gunners, they have drawn to Bournemouth and Chelsea, which are excellent points considering how both teams have performed. 

Leicester are the second favourite for relegation, and the big reason is that they are extremely poor defensively. After 20 games, they only have one clean sheet from a 1-0 win versus Bournemouth in October. The Foxes have conceded 44 goals thus far, the joint second-most in the division and the third-most xG against with 39.97. When you look at the personnel in the defensive unit, these numbers are of no surprise. James Justin and Wout Faes both have two errors leading to goals so far this season. Leicester have kept one clean sheet in ten home games at the King Power.

Palace in forward areas are underperforming in their xG by -6.49, the third worst in the league. Goals have been an issue, with the club currently just five points above the drop. This game is a prime opportunity for Palace to banish any demons in front of the goal against such a poor defence. 

The Foxes need wins, but it’s hard to see where those are going to come from. Palace are the better side, and their defensive unit is lined with higher-quality defenders that can limit this light-looking, limited Leicester attack. The performances from Maxence Lacroix of late have proven why he was the perfect signing to fill the gap after Joachim Andersen’s departure. 

This match should be a hard-fought game between two sides currently fighting to stay up. Over the coming weeks, Palace should pull clear of the rest in the dog fight at the bottom. There is no better way than beating the sides below them heading into the second half of the season, starting with Leicester this midweek. 

• Leicester vs  Crystal Palace Prediction: Crystal Palace to win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET) 

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, January 16th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Foxes keeper a big miss and Palace at relative full strength

Mads Hermansen is a significant loss for Leicester. Across the whole league, he has the best post-shot Expected Goals minus Goals Allowed at +5.8, meaning he is performing above average at stopping shots, exactly what’s needed in a relegation scrap. Leicester City stalwart in the base of their midfield, Wiflired Ndidi, has a thigh injury and will be out until February; the Nigerian intentional is still an influential player on the pitch, and players like Boubacar Soumare will need to step up in his absence. Those two join the long-term injuries at the club of Issahaku Fatawu and Ricardo Barbosa Pereira, who won’t feature for a lengthy period.

Despite an illness keeping Dean Henderson out of the FA Cup tie against Stockport County, it would be unlikely he would miss this game due to illness-related issues, especially with how well he has played this season. Will Hughes’ possible absence from the squad would be felt; the Englishman’s dogged tenacity in midfield gives them an extra bit in the middle that they don’t possess when he’s injured. Along with Adam Wharton’s long-term injury, the rest of the squad is available, allowing Oliver Glasner a lot of choices across the pitch. 

Leicester possible starting lineup:
Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Thomas; Winks , Soumare, Ayew, Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Doucure, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr, Mateta

Match Stats: Mateta been the deciding factor in recent matchups

• The last two games between the two were decided by Jean-Philipe Mateta scoring in injury time: a 92nd-minute equaliser this season and a 94th-minute winner in the 2022/23 season. 
• Crystal Palace have only won one between these two sides in the last nine games in the Premier League. 
• In the earlier fixture in September, Palace dominated proceedings despite the 2-2 draw. They had 2.55 xG and 20 shots to their name, while Leicester had 1.23 xG and 9 shots. 

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