Leicester vs Tottenham Prediction and Preview – 20/01/16

FA Cup preview – Leicester vs Tottenham prediction.

Leicester are surviving a busy schedule without incurring injuries to key players. Mark James (cruciate ligament) is the only squad member unavailable but Claudio Ranieri is expected to rest Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez for the FA Cup replay against Tottenham on Wednesday. It could mean Shinzji Okazaki being paired with Jose Ulloa up front. Marcin Wasilewski was given a rare start when the sides drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane in the first meeting and will feel he deserves to keep a place in the back four after equalising Christian Eriksen’s opening goal.

Mauricio Pochettino may not make too many changes to the Tottenham lineup. Harry Kane may start on the bench again with Heung-Min Son and Josh Onomah set to provide the main attacking options. Kyle Walker and Ben Davies will be considered for the full back positions after being rested for the 4-1 win against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday. Ryan Mason is sidelined with a knee injury while Nabil Bentaleb looks set to miss out with an ankle problem.

Possible Line-ups

Leicester: 4-4-2 formation: Schmeichel; De Laet, Wasilewski, Benalahoune, Chilwell; Dyer, King, Kante, Gray; Okazaki, Ulloa

Tottenham: 4-2-3-1 formation: Vorm; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Carroll; Chadli, Eriksen, Onomah; Son

Statistics

• Leicester have won 4 drawn 5 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
• Tottenham have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Leicester have scored an average of 1.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Tottenham have scored an average of 2 goals and conceded an average of 1 goal per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Leicester’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Tottenham’s previous 10 matches

Prediction

Leicester have knocked out Tottenham in their two previous FA Cup encounters and looked as though they were progressing to the fourth round until Harry Kane converted an 89th minute penalty to take the tie to a replay. This will be the third meeting between the clubs in ten days because they also met in a league game at White Hart Lane a week after their 2-2 draw in the cup. Center half Robert Huth scored a late winner for Leicester just as the game seemed to be heading for a 0-0 draw. That was Leicester’s solitary win in the last six games and the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday was the fourth time they’ve finished all square in the last five games.

Tottenham bounced back from the 1-0 defeat against Leicester by defeating Sunderland 4-1 on Saturday. It means Pochettino’s men have only lost once in the last seven and now trail second placed Leicester by five points in the league table. Tottenham have lost twice on the road in 13 games in all competitions this season and drew 1-1 in the league meeting with Leicester at the King Power in August.

There’s been little to choose between the two sides in three previous meetings this season and Leicester look the better the value at the prices on offer

Tips

Leicester to win at 39/20 with bet365

Under 2.5 goals at Evens with bet365

Leicester to win1-0 at 19/2 with 888sport

What are your predictions?

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