Preview: Stoke City vs Leicester City – Can Puel maintain strong start?
Claude Puel continues in his second game as Leicester City manager against Stoke City, after he won his first game in charge of the Foxes.
Leicester City
Leicester started their new era under Puel very strongly, beating Everton 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray scored the goals in what was a first half reminiscent of the Leicester side that won the title in 2015/16.
They dropped very deep after those two goals went in, but it was still a stellar defensive performance which didn’t allow the Toffees any real chances.
Leicester Man Watch
Gray was the star man against Everton, and will be one of the men that Stoke need to stop in order to get something from the game. The Englishman played on the right flank, meaning Erik Pieters will be the one picking him up, however Riyad Mahrez will also drift out to that flank causing extra problems.
Quotes
"“It feels good obviously with the clean sheet in the last game against Everton,” Christian Fuchs told LCFC TV.“We’re trying to create momentum right now. The confidence is high, but it’s down to us to maintain that and stay focused on each game.“We’re trying to go there and win the game. In the end, if we win the game, I don’t care how it works out. Obviously, everybody is a friend of good, effective football, but at the end it’s down to the result.”"
Team news
Puel confirmed that Ben Chilwell is a doubt for the game, after picking up a knock in training this week.
Chilwell started in the win over Everton in a more advanced role, and his absence could mean a return to the starting lineup for Marc Albrighton.
The manager also confirmed that Robert Huth, Matty James and Yohan Benalouane are still out with injury.
Possible XI
Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Gray, Ndidi, Iborra, Albrighton; Mahrez, Vardy.
Related Story: Fuchs: I don’t care how we beat Stoke City
Stoke
Stoke manager Mark Hughes had come under some pressure, before last week’s 1-0 win away to Watford.
Before that win at Vicarage Road, Stoke had only won one game from their previous eight games, moving the Potters closer to the relegation zone.
Stoke Man Watch
If Xherdan Shaqiri is on form, Stoke can really tick offensively. He is the link between midfield and attack and since Stoke’s switch to a 3-4-3 formation, the Swiss international is given more freedom to roam infield. He has the ability to cause problems all over the pitch.
Quotes
"“At the start of the season people suggested we had maybe too many defenders,” Hughes said at his pre-match press conference, “but thank goodness we have them because we have needed them all.“If you look at the teams who are doing ok, and being acknowledge of having a good start, for the best part, they have had a settled back four or five.“It is a huge thing and if you can have that continuity then it is a huge help – we need that now to help move us on.“Hopefully we can get Ryan [Shawcross] out there again this weekend, because we saw the impact he has upon the group last week, and it won’t help us if we are forced to change it again.”"
Team news
As mentioned above, Stoke hope to have Shawcross fit after he picked up a thigh injury in the win over Watford, where he was man of the match.
While Geoff Cameron will miss the game with a concussion.
Possible XI
Butland; Zouma, Shawcross, Wimmer; Diouf, Fletcher, Allen, Pieters; Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting, Jese.
Past meetings
Leicester and Stoke have played each other 99 times, with each team winning 33 teams and drawing the remaining 33.
Leicester are unbeaten in their last four games against Stoke, winning twice and drawing twice.
Last time out, Leicester were 2-0 victors over Stoke at the King Power, as Wilfried Ndidi and Jamie Vardy scored to maintain then-manager Craig Shakespeare’s 100% start in April.
Next: Leicester City’s Claude Puel tips Adrien Silva to hit the ground running