Leicester face tough Spurs test without talisman

Leicester City entertain Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power in Saturday’s evening kick-off. The teams sit six places apart in the Premier League table with Tottenham in 3rd and Leicester 9th, as both look to push towards continental qualification. 

Spurs have picked up more points away from home so far this season than any other side, winning seven out of nine and face a Leicester side who are looking to make it seven Premier League matches unbeaten.

Spurs, on the other hand, are looking to firmly put their North London Derby defeat behind them by securing successive wins after their 3-1 victory against Southampton in midweek.

Leicester drew with former manager Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham on Tuesday and will be hoping to repeat their performance in this fixture last season when they ran out 2-1 winners.

Tottenham marksman Harry Kane will hope to ensure lightning doesn’t strike twice against one of his favourite opponents, netting 13 times in 11 appearances in all competitions against the side he spent some time on loan with in 2013.

Leicester do boast the better of the head to head record between these sides, emerging victorious ten times to Spurs’ nine with five draws. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been the no-draws specialists this season, being one of only two clubs in the top flight who have yet to share the points in a fixture this campaign.

If history repeats itself , this game should be an entertaining affair with only Arsenal v Liverpool producing more goals (38) than the 34 seen in this fixture since Leicester return to the Premier League in the 2014/15 season. 

Leicester are without Daniel Amartey who continues to recover from an ankle injury, although they do welcome back England international Harry Maguire, who has recovered from a knee injury. Rachid Ghezzal and Jonny Evans are also both available to be selected after resuming training this week.

Claude Puel’s biggest headache, however will be the absence of Jamie Vardy who misses the fixture due to a groin strain. Vardy has scored four times and assisted three in his last seven against Spurs, with further responsibility now falling upon the shoulders of their joint- top scorer alongside Vardy, James Maddison. 

Tottenham welcomed back Danny Rose in midweek and the left-back is in contention to play again, but face a lengthy list of absentees heading into the fixture. Mousa Dembele (ankle), Victor Wanyama (knee), Davinson Sanchez (hamstring) and Erik Lamela (thigh) all continue their rehabilitation and will play no part in this weekend’s fixtures.

In addition to this, Juan Foyth (hamstring) and Kieran Trippier (groin) are also both unavailable after an assessment at the conclusion of their midweek win. Jan Vertonghen will most likely be the man to replace Foyth in the line-up, as he returns from a one-match suspension.

Prediction: Spurs have been good away from home this season and with Jamie Vardy missing for the Foxes, Kane could be looking to extend his impressive scoring record against the 2015/16 champions.

Leicester City 1 Tottenham 3

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