Leicester City vs Crystal Palace: Opposition watch
Claude Puel’s Leicester City host Crystal Palace as the Foxes look to make it four wins on the trot.
Leicester have won each of their last four games, and have only lost to champions-elect Manchester City since Puel took over.
While Crystal Palace had the worst Premier League start in history, and failed to score in their first seven league games they have had an upturn in form under Roy Hodgson
They now sit 18th and only below West Brom on goal difference.
What to expect
Palace have moved away from the Dutch-style football former manager Frank de Boer encouraged and with Wilfried Zaha returning from injury, they look a new side under Hodgson.
However they still look vulnerable at the back having conceded 28 goals from their 17 Premier League games and the turmoil looks as though it could continue as key defender Mamadou Sakho is ruled out through injury.
Although they can gain hope to break with pace through Zaha, Andros Townsend and Ruben Loftus-Cheek and City will have to be weary of their midfield.
Despite influential holding midfielder Luka Milivojevic suspension, Hodgson’s men can control the midfield through playmaker Yohan Cabaye.
Tactics
Palace operate in a fluid 4-4-2 system, Loftus-Cheek and Townsend provide the width and if Zaha is given a lot of freedom, he will frequently move out to either flank.
Zaha prefers the left flank and Leicester’s Danny Simpson will have to be on top form to stop the threat.
Strengths
The attacking midfield trio will provide the creativity for Palace, but the key for Leicester will be stopping Zaha.
The Ivorian’s game has evolved this season, and he has improved his decision-making which will only aid his offensive threat. He was already one of the best dribblers in the league, but now can get his head up and create chances. although he is yet to record an assist this season.
Along with Christian Benteke’s lack of form in front of goal, Palace have struggled.
Benteke is short of confidence, having failed to score this season in 943 minutes (10.4 90 minutes) and will be feeling even lower having missed a last-minute penalty against Bournemouth.
He will be eager to score his first of the season, but limiting the Belgian to difficult chances early in the game could go a long way to getting the Foxes a clean sheet.
Key matchups
Zaha against Simpson is the duel to watch. The winger will often drift out to his preferred flank, where he will find one of the better defensive full-backs in the league waiting.
It will be interesting to see whether Puel will move Riyad Mahrez to a more central position in order to protect Simpson. Marc Albrighton could possibly be used on that flank instead.
The game kicks off at 12:30 on Saturday 16 December at the King Power Stadium.