Leicester being humbled by the champions at Anfield last Sunday will give them all the motivation they need facing a Fulham side who have only managed just the one solitary win in the league this season and that was against fellow strugglers West Brom.
Stanley Challenor will be taking you through the action this evening as it takes place.
Despite this fixture not being high on everyone’s radar, this could be, a defining point in both teams seasons. Brendan Rodgers’ side need to solidify their bid for another European finish as a win this evening will leap frog them over Chelsea and Liverpool only behind Tottenham on goal difference.
Fulham on the other hand, will be looking to just move out of the relegation zone which has been a real rarity so far for Scott Parkers side so far this season. They will be looking to change their fortunes and upset the foxes in their own back yard.
Leicester comfortably swept aside Fulham the last time these two met at the King Power back in 2019, a season which saw the visitors be relegated from the Premier League, a fate they would like to avoid this season and three points will go along way in achieving that.
The home side will more than likely field a much more strengthened side than the one that started against Braga last Thursday. But they will still be without Wilfred Ndidi, who is close too full fitness and is expected to feature in Ukraine in later this week. Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Soyuncu are also unavailable for this contest although Pereira did get some minutes for under 23s against West Ham, but considering the extent of his injury it would make no sense to rush him back into the team.
Fulham welcome Aboubakar Kamara back into the side after his three game suspension he received against Crystal Palace. Perhaps Ruben Loftus-Cheek will find his way into the starting 11 with their side in desperate need of attacking flair as well as the physical presence he gives you in midfield.
Team News
A expected Leicester welcome back big boys Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans, and James Maddison into the starting line-up, all three came on as subs in Portugal Thursday night and completely turned the game in Leicester’s favour.
It seems as though Leicester will set up in a familiar 3-4-3 formation tonight with Maddison and Dennis Praet as inside forwards. Both will more than likely hold their position when defending but when Leicester have the ball they will drop into deeper areas to pick up the ball between the lines especially Maddison.
Both sides will be wearing black armbands to remember Diego Maradona who sadly passed away last week but also to commemorate former Fulham player Papa Bouba Diop who died last night following a long battle with illness. The Senegalese legend represented Fulham 76 times scoring eight goals for the club between 2004 and 2007. He will be sorely missed by the entire football community.
Although this system may potentially lead to an isolated Vardy who will be without any other pace man in the side but with Leicester more than likely being the dominant possession side this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Loftus-Cheek does find his way into the side but there is no room for Kamara and also no room for club captain Tom Cairney as Parker seems to have gone with a more attacking midfield.
As well as the wearing of black arm bands, both sides tonight will host a minute of applause out of respect for the passing of the ex-players. It’s a very touching to see football so unified in this difficult time we are all experiencing.
With just minutes till the starting whistle the teams take the field. It will be very interesting too see the level of intensity in the opening stages which will give a good indication to how this tie will turn out.
1′ We’re off. Leicester gets proceedings underway going left too right on your screens.
2′ As expected Leicester having the bulk of the possession early on as Fulham look really up for it tonight as they press Leicester high up the pitch forcing Christian Fuchs too give the ball away cheaply under pressure.
5′ Fuchs who is usually so comfortable on the ball has given the ball away again due to the high press of Fulham. Is this something they can expose as the game goes on.
Embed from Getty Images10′ A very bland opening 10 minutes as Fulham are sitting back now looking to counter quickly but have not had the quality too do so so far.
13′ The lack of pace in the Leicester side is very apparent, so everything is in front of Fulham giving them little too no issues defensively.
15′ Free kick given in a dangerous area right on the edge of the Leicester box Lookman cuts inside and is chopped down by Namplys Mendy . The Frenchman is lucky to not receive a yellow card for the challenge.
16′ Lookman applies too much power on the free kick and it flies over Kasper Schmeichel’s crossbar.
18′ Now we will see the first card of the night Reed takes out James Justin right on the edge of the box.
Embed from Getty Images19′ So close!! Maddison’s free kick hits the wall, it falls too Tielemans who volleys the ball from the edge of the box, it strikes the post and lands at the feet of Wesley Fofana. He stabs at it but it clips the bar and goes out for a goal kick. Hopefully this will liven this game up now.
24′ Lookman has been the main bright spark for a very lacklustre Fulham up to this point, every time he gets the ball he’s being very positive and looking to take players on.
Embed from Getty Images26′ Leicester starting too break down Fulham’s stubborn defence as they are overloading the right hand side with Justin and Praet. The Belgian receives the ball on the overlap from Justin he drills the ball into the box to the ever dangerous Vardy who flicks the ball and forces a save out Areola.
Embed from Getty Images28′ Now Fulham produce their first successful counter attack and work the ball too Robinson who can only strike the ball straight at Schmeichel.
30′ Goal Lookman Leicester City 0-1 Fulham
Very much against the run of play but its just what Fulham needed and it’s the man who’s looked the brightest with out a doubt he is et clean through as Fofana tries too play him offside but fails too do so and Lookman cooly slots it into the bottom corner.
34′ Ironically it is the tactic that Rodgers has adopted much of the games this season that has been his undoing so far and a ball in behind leads to Fuchs seeming to take Reids left leg inside the area and now after review it has been given a penalty.
38′ Goal Cavaleiro Leicester City 0-2 Fulham
Brilliant penalty into the top right corner giving Schmeichel no chance. Unbelievable scenes here at the King Power, Parker is displaying an absolute tactical masterclass.
40′ If the two goals weren’t a warning then I don’t know what will sharpen up this Leicester side again the left hand side of Fuchs and Luke Thomas are being peppered of balls in behind and again the ball is worked to Cavaleiro on the right side of the box and he forces an excellent save out of Schmeichel.
45′ As the half comes to a close I can’t see how Rodgers doesn’t make changes tactically, the back three slash five isn’t working and is falling right into Fulham’s hands.
Half time
Quite the contrast in performances from both sides, Parker will be overjoyed with his teams display and their clinical approach in front of the Leicester goal.
Where as Rodgers as well as all Leicester fans, and the few who are blogging this game… Will be absolutely furious with this completely uninspiring performance. I think that we will most likely see Harvey Barnes or Cengiz Under enter the fray as they need too stretch the Fulham’s back line.
As predicted both Barnes and Under are on for Thomas and Praet, it looks like there will be a change in shape for Leicester also.
46′ Fulham gets things back underway as they look to seal a vital three points in this second half.
48′ Already the direct approach of Barnes is looking too threaten straight away as numerous times he’s beat a player and tried too slip in Vardy.
Embed from Getty Images54′ Leicester are looking a lot more promising this deeper role of Maddison is allowing him to make much more of a difference he finds Barnes had the opportunity too play in Under but he doesn’t show the quality to do so.
57′ The foxes are really starting to probe away and will really want too capitalize on this pressure as they win a corner, but nothing comes from it.
61′ It really does seem based on how flat Leicester has been that they thought they could show up and sweep Fulham a side.
65′ On tempo alone Fulham are just playing at a pace one notch above Leicester with everything they’re doing.
69′ Looks like a last throw of the dice for Rodgers Kelechi Iheanacho comes in for Mendy.
71′ Entering the final 20 minutes you would have too say that Parker has got everything right so far and have been by far the better team and will be fully deserve all the points.
75′ So nearly a third for Fulham wonderful football once again as they produce a free flowing moving down the left hand side cut the ball back into the box to Lookman who forces a smart save out of Schmeichel down to his left.
Embed from Getty Images77′ First change for Fulham and it’s Mario Lemina on for Loftus-Cheek. He’s been superb tonight but Parker is looking to shut up shop with this defensive substitution.
81′ Better more intricate play by Leicester a smart one-two between Barnes and Iheanacho but much like everything Leicester has done tonight there is no end product and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
86′ Goal Barnes Leicester City 1-2 Fulham
Game on! Despite how toothless Leicester have been in the second half they have managed too halve the deficit, a ball comes into the box from Under Vardy cushions the ball down to Barnes who, somehow in a crowded area manages to fire it into the top corner. Will we see some more late drama at the King Power.
87′ As a response to that goal Aleksandar Mitrovic has come on for the goal scorer Cavarleiro.
89′ Now Joe Bryan has come on for the other goal scorer and surely man of the match Lookman.
Embed from Getty Images90′ During that stoppage Adarabioyo has been booked for timewasting.
91′ Leicester throwing everything but the kitchen sink now Under delivers a ball into the box that looked like it hit the arm of Barnes, nonetheless it falls kindly to Iheanacho he scuffs shot into the ground and it goes out for a corner.
95′ Late drama as Schmeichel comes up for a Leicester corner, Under doesn’t even get the ball off the ground and it’s down the other end with Mitrovic travelling into the foxes half. But surprisingly he adopts too square the ball and Schmeichel manages too get back and intercepts the and it goes out for a corner.
Full time
That’s the full time whistle an incredible result for Parkers side as that moves them out of the relegation zone and with a performance like that they’ll be wanting to kick start their season into an upward trajectory.
Whereas for Leicester that’s three defeats out of five at home this season, the very complacent and frankly tactically naive performance has really cost them.
