Brighton v Leicester: Potterball v Brendanball on the South Coast

On Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion host the injury-ridden Leicester City. Read on for the key facts, injuries, and how the Foxes can win.

To the South Coast the travelling Leicester go to face the Seagulls. A team world renowned for being so creative, so positive, so easy on the eye, yet missing so many opportunities – including two penalties in a single game. They might as well be a team of cryogenically frozen chillies.

So, in this article we will explore the form, facts, injuries, and an expected line-up for the Foxes, as well as praising Graham Potter – the Brighton manager – for his incredibly impressive outfit.

Leicester City are injury-ridden

I started my Burnley pre-match preview with almost the exact same headline. This time however, there is one less injury. Later on, I’ll get you up to date with the latest injury news (as of writing of course). For now, all we need to be joyous about is the return of ‘wonderkid’ Wesley Fofana.

By the by, here is Bishop’s player ratings for the Burnley 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. His conclusion is tragically accurate to my own opinion. Vardy should be dropped.

Nevertheless, the context of Leicester’s recent drop in form – with two terrible losses (Slavia Prague and Arsenal) and a draw (Burnley) – is pernicious: at least five critical ‘first team’ players have either been injured, unavailable, or have now become injured, in these matches.

Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Wesley Fofana, James Justin, and Harvey Barnes have all been critical to Leicester City’s positive form previously this season. Their absences are certainly felt, though can be plastered over with either youth talent or playing some of our more versatile players elsewhere – such as Marc Albrighton.

So, how have the King Power side faired away from home this season? Credit to Understat for most statistics.

The Foxes sit right with Manchester City in the Premier League if only away points are counted. A testament to the winning mentality of ‘Brendanball’. With nine wins, four draws, and only one loss. That being said, three of our four draws have come in the last five away matches. So, there has certainly been a humbling of the East Midlands outfit.

This will only encourage the arresting ‘Potterball’ side, with their neat and clinical build-up play. That being said, their home form is much to be desired. One win, seven draws, and five losses. If their form has any impact on the upcoming spectacle, them the Foxes should do well.

It is also not beneficial that they lack a natural goal-scorer – bar perhaps Neal Maupay – who can take advantage of the ‘Potterball’ style of play. They have created the second highest xG (expected goals) – reflecting the quantity and quality of chances they create for their forwards – at home, while scoring the fifth least. The rift is huge.

Let us hope that the King Power side will see a positive revival of the fluid and dynamic ‘Brendanball’ style which has got them to such heights in the league. This can only be helped by better utilising youth and exciting talent (such as Sidnei Tavares and Cengiz Under), and the return of players like Fofana from injury.