Leicester host fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest this evening in what could be an era-defining East Midlands Derby for the beaten party. With both Brendan Rodgers and Steve Cooper in danger of losing their job, a defeat could either could trigger an immediate dismissal and with so much riding on the result at the King Power Stadium, tackles and tempers are certain to be hot.
Below, you can find a selection of stats for today’s game laden with info on corners, assists, cards, shots, shots on target, assists and more. Hopefully, they will help to give you an edge over the bookmakers when putting your bet builders together for the contest.
Predicted Lineups
Full-backs Ricardo Pereira and Ryan Bertrand are still sidelined for Leicester while Patson Daka has been ill since the international break and might not feature.
Again, Brendan Rodgers has a decision to make in attack. Does he restore out-of-form veteran Jamie Vardy to the XI or does he go with the younger alternative, Kelechi Iheanacho?
Moussa Niakhaté, Morgan Gibbs-White and Scott McKenna are in the treatment room for Forest. Emmanuel Dennis picked up a knock on international duty, however, he has been training in the lead up to tonight’s game.
Steve Cooper is expected to stick with his favoured 3-4-3 formation despite a run of four straight defeats in the Premier League.
Team Stats
Leicester’s stats for the season so far throw up some items of interest. Their shots for (11.00) and shots against (12.90) figures per 90 have been similar, though the gap between their goals against and xG against numbers is alarmingly wide (3.14 goals against p/90, 1.65 xG against p/90).
Keeper Danny Ward has struggled to fill the massive void left by Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks and his failings are evident in the data.
Forest went on a record-breaking transfer splurge in the summer, however, the early evidence suggests their aggressive recruitment drive has backfired. Forest are conceding a whopping 16.90 shots and 6.14 shots on target per 90 minutes since their promotion.
They’ve also been conceding a huge 7.29 corners p/90, while picking up 2.84 cards (p/90) along the way. Only two clubs have collected more bookings so far this term overall.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
James Maddison (3.33 shots p/90) has kept his individual levels high when those around him have been fluffing their lines, while Harvey Barnes (2.77 shots p/90) has threatened consistently from the left flank.
Youri Tielemans (1.43 shots per 90) is fond of a punt from deep, while Kelechi Iheanacho’s numbers (3.60 shots, 0.51 SOT p/90) point to a wastefulness in the final third.
Taiwo Awoniyi (2.39 shots p/90) has been Forest’s biggest threat at the business end of the pitch this season, while Ryan Yates (2.77) and Neco Williams (2.15) are two options further back that are definitely worth watching in the markets.
A glance at the shots on target figures for Forest’s players shines an unflattering light on the team’s biggest issues, however.
Player Goals and Assists
Pickings have been slim for bottom club Leicester this season, though James Maddison’s four goal contributions (3G, 1A) is a decent haul for a midfielder in a struggling side.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes have notched just once each, while Jamie Vardy is yet to get off the mark.
Taiwo Awoniyi scored the second of his goals against Fulham before the international break, while Brennan Johnson hit his second from the spot in a 3-2 reverse against Bournemouth just before that.
Creativity has been a major issue for Steve Cooper’s side this season. Summer signing Jesse Lingard has been playing as a number ten, though he has been mustering just 1.2 key passes per game and he has yet to hit a single goal or assist.
Leicester City Cards
James Maddison (1.17 fouls p/90) has let his frustrations get the better of him on occasion this season and he could add to his two cautions if the game gets away from Leicester this evening.
Wilfred Ndidi (1.33 fouls p/90) should have more bite to his game now that he is back in his favoured position at the base of midfield, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (1 card) is happy to chime in with challenges in the middle of the pitch.
Lewis O’Brien might not start this evening, but if the 23-year-old does, watch out for his interactions with Wilfred Ndidi. O’Brien has been fouled 2.24 times per 90 this season and he could drift into tackle-happy Ndidi’s orbit at the King Power Stadium.
Renan Lodi (fouled 1.79 per 90) will share the same zones as James Maddison today and that battle is dripping with card potential. 30-year-old Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler (fouled 1.58 times per 90) could use his knowhow to draw challenges from the comparatively inexperienced Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Match-Ups to watch
Wilfred N’Didi vs Lewis O’Brien
James Maddison vs Renan Lodi
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall vs Remo Freuler
Nottingham Forest Cards
Centre-half Joe Worrall has found it tough to adapt to the pace of Premier League football and the 25-year-old centre-half has been carded three times in just seven appearances (six starts).
Brennan Johnson, Neco Williams and Lewis O’Brien have all been cautioned twice each, as has defender Steve Cook, who could have a tough time against Leicester’s nippy attackers this evening.
Opponents often mark James Maddison out for special treatment and the Leicester schemer has been fouled a huge 3.17 times per 90 minutes this term. Watch out for tackles on Maddison from Steve Cook when the Foxes star drifts centrally towards the Forest box.
Harvey Barnes (fouled 1.86 times p/90) faces an intriguing battle with Neco Williams down the Leicester left this evening. If Barnes does manage to beat Williams, then hard-hitting Joe Worrall will be next in line to stop him on the right side of Forest’s central defensive trio.
Match-Ups to watch
Joe Worrall vs Harvey Barnes
Steve Cook vs James Maddison
Neco Williams vs Harvey Barnes
