Leicester City will host West Bromwich Albion at the King Power Stadium on Monday in an eagerly anticipated Championship clash. Currently, Leicester occupies the 13th position in the table, while West Brom trails them in 18th, just three points behind.
Leicester’s head coach, Marti Cifuentes, is feeling the pressure after his team has struggled recently, losing three of their last four games. The Foxes have managed only one victory in their last five outings, a much-needed win against Derby County, but they could not sustain that momentum, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United to kick off the New Year. The Foxes find themselves in the lower half of the table, six points adrift of the playoff positions, and Cifuentes is likely worried as only four teams have conceded more goals than Leicester this season. They have not recorded a clean sheet since a goalless draw with Coventry City.
Cifuentes can take some comfort from Leicester’s historical performance against West Brom, having won five of their last six encounters, including a 2-1 victory at home in April 2024.
On the other side, West Brom’s coach, Ryan Mason, is also facing scrutiny as his team is struggling in the standings with nine wins, four draws, and 12 losses across 25 league matches this season. The Baggies share similar woes, entering the match after suffering defeats in three of their last four games. Their last outing resulted in a narrow 1-0 loss against Swansea City, marking their ninth consecutive loss on the road. As they prepare for this match, West Brom will be eager to secure their first away victory since October 1.
West Brom has historically found it challenging against Leicester, having collected just two points from their last eight matches. Their most recent win dates back to November 2016 in the Premier League, where they triumphed 2-1.
In terms of team news, Leicester will miss key players Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar, and Boubakary Soumare due to injuries. Additionally, Aaron Ramsey is set to miss another match due to a hamstring issue. Midfielder Hamza Choudhury and forward Jordan Ayew are in contention for starting positions after contributing as substitutes in their last game.
For West Brom, Tammer Bany is expected to be sidelined for around four months with a thigh injury, while Jed Wallace remains unavailable. However, Alfie Gilchrist is anticipated to return from a three-match suspension, offering Mason some tactical flexibility.
The probable starting lineups for the match feature Leicester aiming to claim a much-needed home victory, while West Brom hopes for an end to their dismal run on the road. Given the stakes and both teams’ recent form, the match promises to be competitive as each side seeks redemption in the Championship.
Predictions lean towards Leicester City securing a 3-1 victory, considering West Brom’s struggles both on the field and in historical matchups between the two teams. The Foxes will be keen to leverage their past successes against the Baggies to climb the table and finally find some consistency this season.