Leicester City will host Charlton Athletic at the King Power Stadium this Saturday in a Championship clash that sees both sides eager to find stability amid challenging circumstances. The match comes as Leicester adjusts to life without Marti Cifuentes, who parted ways with the club last week. Meanwhile, Charlton will be wary of slipping further into the relegation zone as the pressure mounts.
Leicester City, with one of the most expensive rosters in the division, is currently languishing in 14th place, a position that falls short of expectations following their return from the Premier League. The Foxes are seeking their first league victory in three matches, having secured only five wins from their last 14 games across all competitions. This has highlighted serious concerns, particularly in defense, as the club has conceded 43 goals, ranking as the third-highest in the Championship. The new interim manager will face immediate challenges as they look to solidify the team’s defensive structure.
Encouragement can be found in Leicester’s earlier encounter with Charlton this season, where a standout performance from Abdul Fatawu helped secure a victory.
On the other hand, Charlton Athletic is enduring a troubling patch of form after a promising start under Nathan Jones. Recently, they’ve faced back-to-back defeats, suffering a harsh 4-0 loss to their local rivals, Millwall. The Addicks have only managed one win since the start of the year, conceding 14 goals in just six matches, which has pushed them closer to the relegation zone. Their season’s struggles have been underscored by a disappointing tally of only 27 goals scored, making an away match at Leicester appear daunting rather than an opportunity for recovery.
In terms of team news, Leicester will be without Oliver Skipp due to concussion protocols, and Jordan James is also sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury. Boubakary Soumare and Hamza Choudhury may step into the lineup as Leicester looks to make necessary adjustments.
Charlton has its own injury concerns, with Harvey Knibbs facing a lengthy absence after being stretchered off in a recent match, and both Josh Edwards and Onel Hernandez are unlikely to feature. New signing Conor Coady from Wrexham may have the chance to start against his former club.
Based on the current form and squad depth, predictions lean toward a Leicester victory, with the potential for a close scoreline given both teams’ current predicaments. With a fresh start on the horizon after recent managerial changes, Leicester City is expected to narrowly secure a win over Charlton Athletic, potentially lifting their spirits in what has been a challenging season thus far.