Foxes to tighten their grip on third place
Thursday evening sees Midlands sides Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion go head to head at the King Power Stadium with very different aims in mind with their remaining matches of the 2020/2021 Premier League season. The Baggies have a game in hand at the time of writing on Burnley in 17th, but need to make up effectively 10 points just to be ahead of them, let alone the extra they'll doubtlessly require. Nevertheless, Sam Allardyce has to remain bullish about their chances and hope that that continues to have an impact on the pitch. The hosts, meanwhile, have seen top four rivals catch up with them but then drop points in unexpected ways. They must take the chance to now put clear daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. Read our preview here:
Madd world
After their FA Cup exploits at the weekend that resulted them reaching the final to face Chelsea in May, it's highly likely that head coach Brendan Rodgers will opt to rotate at least a couple of the starters from his charges' triumph over Southampton at Wembley. Ayoze Pérez and Ricardo Pereira are the most obvious choices to make way, especially as the latter came off with a niggle at the weekend. James Maddison should come in for the former, and in doing so, make his first start in two months. In his absence, Jamie Vardy has been on a barren spell whilst strike partner Kelechi Ihenacho has profited. His restoration should help the hitman take up better goalscoring positions, and he will relish getting in the spaces behind the West Brom backline as they naturally need to push forward to win for their very survival to be more than a glimmer of hope.
Yokuşlu's better than Okay
Allardyce has always remained adamant that the best way to turn around a team destined for relegation is to make them much more difficult to score against. In this regard, he has had at least partial success, and whilst credit undoubtedly goes to the backline themselves, the double pivot in front of them have also had a big hand in their improvement. Turkish anchorman Okay Yokuşlu, on loan from La Liga outfit Celta Vigo, has excelled in his role, though perhaps has had some of his thunder stolen by the sublime displays attacking midfielder Matheus Pereira has been putting on, especially in the incredible 5-2 victory over Chelsea. Striker Mbaye Diagne has not been prolific, but has at least used his tall frame and good movement to get into goalscoring positions, and should profit from set piece situations.
Flat Sam
WBA have smashed in eight goals in the last two matches against an unusually generous Chelsea defence and a typically accommodating Saints one. Leicester's isn't exactly watertight, but should cope better with the largely predictable approach play offered up by the West Midlands club. It also remains to be seen whether the Baggies' sudden goal-glut is a flash in the pan or something that can be sustained until the end of the season. Regardless. in Ihenacho and the returning Maddison, Leicester have their own answers. 888sport are offering odds of 3.25 for over 3.5 goals in this encounter.
