The English Premier League continues this weekend, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Stoke City vs. Leicester City match. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Stoke City vs. Leicester City
Three-Way: 1: Stoke City +175; X: +240 Draw; 2: Leicester City +195 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Stoke City -103; Leicester City +106
Total +2.5: Over +110; Under -115
STOKE CITY
The Potters ended a two-game losing streak with a narrow, 1-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, thanks to Darren Fletcher’s early goal in the 16th minute. Watford tried to equalize and had 70% of ball possession, but Stoke managed to keep the net intact and secure important three points that sent them to the 14th position in the Premier League with 11 points, three ahead of the relegation zone. That was Stoke’s first away win in this season, and the first time they didn’t concede, so Mark Hughes has to be delighted. His job is not among the most secure ones at the moment, but it seems that three points at Vicarage Road will keep him at bet365 Stadium for a little while. The Potters are slight favorites against Leicester, but the visitors are in good form, and I see this tilt as highly unpredictable.
Stoke City played 12 games so far in 2017/18, recording four victories, two draws, and six defeats, with a goal difference of 15:22, which is just over three goals per contest on average. When it comes to home matches, the Potters have three wins, a draw, and a couple of losses, scoring ten and allowing nine goals in return. The previous two H2H duels at bet365 ended 2-2, and I can see something similar to happen on Saturday so that I would go with goals on both ends here. Stoke is without a win over Leicester in the last four meetings, while they scored in all but one at home this time around, conceding in the past four.
The Senegalese forward Mame Diouf and the veteran striker Peter Crouch are the team’s leading scorers with three goals to their respective names, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joe Allen added two apiece. The inefficiency is a big problem for Mark Hughes, but the defense is even bigger as the Potters allowed 20 goals in ten matches in the league, only Crystal Palace conceded more goals in this campaign (21). SaidoBerahino is still without a goal in seven appearances, and although Hughes gave him several opportunities to show his qualities, the former West Brom striker is a huge disappointment, despite being labeled as an exciting Premier League prospect in the past. The fact that the 36-year-old player is the top scorer is somewhat sad for the Potters, with all due respect to phenomenal Crouch, but Hughes needs Choupo-Moting, Shaqiri, Jese, and Berahino to step up and contribute more to the attack.
The Swiss international XherdanShaqiri is the most creative individual with three assists at the moment, while Erik Pieters, Choupo-Moting, Allen, and Diouf added a couple of dishes apiece. The Spaniard Jese, who came in the summer as a significant reinforcement, is playing below expectations and he wasn’t even on the pitch at Vicarage Road. Mark Hughes is still without midfielder Stephen Ireland who is recovering from a broken leg and will be back in 20-30 days, while Geoff Cameron (concussion), and Bruno Martins Indi (groin) are also unavailable and will not feature on this one. The gaffer s delighted to have the captain Ryan Shawcross back after the defender missed the start of the season, but Peter Crouch might not be able to participate due to a lower back injury.
LEICESTER CITY
The Foxes are looking rejuvenated after Craig Shakespeare sacking as they recorded three straight victories, including the one in the 1/8 finals of the Carabao Cup that sent them to the 1/4 finals. Leicester also defeated Swansea and Everton in the Premier League, and they are now in the 11th position with 12 points, one more than the Potters. Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray sank the Toffees in the first half in the previous round as Riyad Mahrez is slowly returning to his old self as he added an assist here and was a constant threat to the visitors’ defense. It was the new manager Claude Puel’s debut on Leicester bench, and it was an excellent way to start the life at Kingdom Power Stadium. The Frenchman didn’t have the best of times during his spell at St.Mary’s, as Southampton sacked him after just year at a charge. Puel led the Saints to the League Cup finals and to the 8th place in the Premier League, but the Southampton hierarchy didn’t like his defensive style and decided to terminate the contract.
Leicester City played 13 games so far in this campaign, recording six wins, three draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 23:16, which is precisely three goals per contest on average. Considering Stoke’s goal difference, we should expect at least three goals on Saturday, as they combined for eight in the last two at bet365 Stadium. Those for defeats all came in the Premier League, which probably caused Leicester owners to fire Craig Shakespeare who stepped in following Claudio Ranieri’s departure last year and did a decent job. Interestingly, the Foxes reached to Ranieri in order to take over at Kingdom Power Stadium, but the Italian refused, as he’s doing very well at Nantes. Ranieri didn’t forget how the club treated him even though he brought them the first ever Premier League title two years ago. The Foxes are without an away loss in the last three matches, and they are also undefeated in the previous three at Stoke and are surely motivated to continue with fine form as the potential victory would send them to the top half of the Premier League standings.
The striker Jamie Vardy is the team’s top scorer with six goals in 11 appearances, while the Japanese international Shinji Okazaki with five, and Islam Slimani with four are following Vardy on a goal-scoring chart. The Algerian wizard Riyad Mahrez is the best assist-maker with five dishes to his name at the moment, while Andy King and Vicente Iborra have a pair of assists each. Mahrez struggled in September and the first half of November but then started to play at the level we used to see him, and along with Vardy and Okazaki, he is the crucial factor in the offense, being involved in seven goals so far. Claude Puel cannot count on the centre-back Robert Huth who is still unavailable due to a malleolar injury, and he has yet to play a single minute in the 201718 season. The Portuguese midfielder Adrien Silva is not eligible until January, and he will miss another two months, but the rest of the team is healthy and ready to go.
Stoke City vs. Leicester City – Match Prediction
I could not decide on the winner of this clash, but considering their respective forms and the recent history when it comes to H2H matches, I think there will be goals on both sides.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-115)
