Leicester City prepares to host Manchester United on boxing day at the King Power Stadium while the latter hopes for some festive cheer.
Leicester City has picked up 27 points from their 14 Premier League games since the beginning of the season and they sit second in the table. The Foxes are one point ahead of the third-placed United who has a game in hand over Leicester and the leaders Liverpool.
Rodgers’ side has encountered a slight wobble between November 22nd and December 3rd when they lost three of their four matches in all competitions although they won four of their last five games.
The second-placed Leicester bounced back from a 2-0 home defeat to Everton on December 16th by winning 2-0 at Spurs last weekend. However, the team’s home form has slightly been a concern winning three and losing four of their seven top-flight fixtures at the King Power Stadium.
Moreover, there is no question as to whether the hosts have the tools to harm United on Boxing Day because they have lost each of their last four Premier League games with the visitors while they haven’t beaten the 20-time English Champions since a 5-3 success in September of 2014.
On to United, Solskjaer’s position as the club’s coach has been called into scrutiny on a number of occasions this season. United did not manage to advance to the last-16 stage of the Champions League and this was a huge disappointment considering their start to the group stage of the competition.
Nonetheless, United’s form is considered excellent although the club has won six of their last seven, remained unbeaten, a record of eight wins, two draws, and there defeats from 13 matches that have brought them to 26 points, enough for the third spot in the table.
Manchester United are only five points behind Liverpool. And, recently, they have been mentioned as possible title contenders, something incredible considering their struggles in the early stages of the campaign.
Moreover, the visitors will enter Saturday’s clash off the back of an impressive 2-0 win at Everton in the EFL Cup.
Team News
Again, Leicester City will be without Ricardo Pereira who is out as a result of an injury while the match is expected to come too soon for the central defender Caglar Soyuncu. Jamie Vardy is fit though with the experienced striker overcoming the groin issue that he picked up during the win over Spurs. As a result, Vardy should lead the line with support from James Maddison and Ashley Barnes in the forward areas.
Rodgers could select a back three with Christian Fuchs coming into the side, but there are unlikely to be any changes in midfield with Youri Tielemans again set to line up alongside Wilfred Ndidi.
For United, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan Bissaka missed against Everton through injury although the pair could come back into the starting X1 against Leicester.
There will be changes from the side that triumphed in the EFL Cup with Victor Lindelof, Fred, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, and David De Gea expected to return.
Daniel James impressed against Leeds United last weekend although Mason Greenwood could be given the nod on the right while Edinson Cavani is likely to drop to the bench despite scoring a brilliant goal at Goodison Park.