Leicester City are still rooted to the foot of the Premier League table after they were outfoxed by Manchester United on Thursday evening and the menu doesn’t get any easier to digest on Sunday when Brendan Rodgers strugglers visit high-flying Brighton. The Seagulls are still in the top four, despite a first loss of the season against Fulham and Albion look ready to bounce back at the Amex Stadium.
I’ve covered stats for goals, shots, corners and cards for both teams just below. It’s a really useful tool to place bet builders with a better shot at winning.
Predicted Lineups
Graham Potter’s unorthodox 3-4-2-1 formation should be on show again on Sunday, though it’s a tossup between Leandro Trossard and veteran Danny Welbeck for the furthest forward position.
Midfielder Moisés Caicedo has been drawing glances from suitors since the summer, though the Ecuadorian hit some rare bum notes in Albion’s loss to Fulham last weekend. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old should retain his place alongside the solid Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
New centre-half Wout Faes watched on from the stands when Leicester limped to a 1-0 reverse at home to Manchester United on Thursday and the Belgian, who is a dead-ringer for David Luiz, could make his debut on Sunday.
Wilfried Ndidi was ineffective at centre-half against United and the Nigerian could swap positions with Boubakary Soumare, who was equally feeble at the base of Leicester’s midfield.
Team Stats
Brighton have posted an excellent set of results in the campaign’s opening exchanges, however, much like last season, a good chunk of their impressive approach play tends to go unrewarded. Only five clubs scored fewer goals than Albion in 2021/22 (42) and the Seagulls are averaging a modest 1.20 goals per 90 minutes so far this term.
Interestingly, Leicester are matching Brighton stride-for-stride in terms of goals per 90 minutes (1.20), though their goals against fixtures p/90 are less flattering to say the least (2.20). Remarkably, only whipping boys Bournemouth have posted a lower xG per 90 (0.64) than Brendan Rodgers’ toothless Foxes.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Versatile Albion stalwart Solly March is the standout performer for Brighton for shots on target per 90 (1.33) and shots per 90 (2.44), though the 28-year-old has yet to make a single effort count. German Pascal Groß has been a much savvier operator, netting a club-high three times from just 0.80 attempts on target p/90.
Leicester’s shooting stats have been dominated by midfielders this season and the usually evergreen Jamie Vardy has finally started to show signs of ageing. The veteran’s numbers show that he has been on the periphery of the action far too often 0.23, 1.13). Set piece specialist, James Maddison has been bumping up his number with pots at goal from free kicks. The schemer had tested David de Gea with two dead-ball efforts on Thursday.
Player Goals and Assists
With four goal contributions in five Premier League appearances, Pascal Groß has been going about his business in style and it’s easy to see why he was on Liverpool’s radar last year. Argentinean midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is Albion’s second-highest scorer, though both of his goals were hit from the spot (vs West Ham & Fulham).
James Maddison flew out of the blocks with either a goal or assist in each of Leicester’s first three assignments, though he drew a blank against Man Utd in midweek. Jamie Vardy still hasn’t broken his duck for 2022/23 and the 35-year-old’s powers could be on the wane. Vardy has scored in just five of his last 24 Premier League appearances overall.
Brighton Cards
Alexis Mac Allister is Brighton’s most cynical midfield enforcer and the tough-tackling Argentinean ranks second-highest for both fouls committed per 90 (1.80) and highest for yellow cards collected (2.0). Lewis Dunk’s absence from the list is interesting. The Seagulls skipper has clearly been refining his game. He went from nine cards in 19/20 to five in 20/21 and down to just two in total last season, despite similar appearance records for each campaign.
James Maddison (3.25) knows how to earn his team a free-kick and the attacking midfielder bought more than a couple on Thursday evening against Man Utd. Alexis Mac Allister will be nipping at Maddison’s ankles in the middle third and that match-up could provide bettors with a good card market opportunity.
Match-Ups to watch
Alexis Mac Allister vs James Maddison
Solly March vs Harvey Barnes
Leandro Trossard vs James Justin
Leicester City Cards
Patson Daka’s fouls per 90 figures (3.75) are a bit of an eye-opener and perhaps his recklessness out of possession is why Brendan Rodgers has been reluctant to hand him a start. James Maddison has been carded twice for petulant rather than meaty tackles and the 25-year-old can often let his frustrations get the better of him.
Brighton flanksman Solly March is Albion’s most fouled player this season (1.56 p/90) – a figure that aligns with his decent dribbling numbers (1.11 p/90). Ball carriers tend to draw quite a few fouls, which is why Belgian wizard Leandro Trossard’s name is on the rundown. Alexis Mac Allister won’t be far from the action whenever skirmishes break out in midfield.
James Justin vs Solly March
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall vs Alexis Mac Allister
James Maddison vs Pascal Groß
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That’s all the stats you’ll need to place a bet builder with the research to back it. If you are placing one, please gamble responsibly
