Leicester vs Wolves Preview: Team News & Prediction

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We have a new-ish and a new manager in the dugouts at the King Power Stadium in what is a so-called ‘six pointer’ midlands derby between Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Kick-off date/time: Sunday 22nd December, 2024: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Peacock

Leicester Preview: Ruud needs a response

Following the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester City started with a defeat of West Ham United before coming from 2-0 down to earn a point against Brighton and Hove Albion but they now need a response after a horror afternoon at St James’ Park.

The Foxes went up to Newcastle United and were blown away by four goals to nil. Jacob Murphy notched a brace in that game as well as goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak to leave them hovering just above the bottom three and the relegation places.

Wolves Preview: Vitor Pereira’s debut

It has been a tumultuous few months for Wolverhampton Wanderers with 64 goals coming in their 16 matches so far this season and the decision to sack Gary O’Neil was eventually taken last weekend with Al Shabab boss Vitor Pereira being recruited to replace him at Molineux.

He takes over a side that have collected just nine points from their opening 16 games of the campaign as they come into this one on the back of a 2-1 loss at home to fellow strugglers Ipswich Town due to a second-half stoppage-time winner from Jack Taylor.

Leicester Team News: ‘Keeper issues

There is a ‘possibility’ that Mads Hermansen can play this weekend but faces a late fitness test. Fellow goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk is building his fitness back up after playing for the U21s in midweek with Harry Winks now back fit and available.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Skipp, Winks; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy

Unavailable: Pereira (Injured), Ndidi (Injured), Fatawu (Injured)

Questionable: Hermansen (Injured), Stolarczyk (Fitness), Edouard (Fitness)

Wolves Team News: Cunha doubt

Vitor Pereira has confirmed that former Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha is a doubt for this one after his scuffles at the end of Wolves' victory over Ipswich last weekend. Joao Gomes has returned from suspension but Rayan Ait Nouri is now serving a ban with Jose Sa a doubt and Pablo Sarabia sidelined through injury.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Johnstone; Dawson, Toti Gomes, Bueno; Semedo, Andre, Lemina, Doherty; Joao Gomes, Cunha; Strand Larsen

Unavailable: Ait-Nouri (Suspended), Mosquera (Injured), Traore (Injured), Gonzalez (Injured), Kalajdzic (Injured)

Questionable: Sa (Injured), Sarabia (Injured), Cunha (Disciplinary)

Leicester vs Wolves Prediction

Leicester will be under pressure to take the game to Wolves this week and that is the way in which Van Nistelrooy generally prefers to play but they simply have quite a limited squad, especially with the absence of key attacker Abdul Fatawu. Vitor Pereira is more known for being typically defensive and reactive and the key improvement for the visitors has to be defensively with 40 goals conceded. Given that, a low scoring, tense and nervy affair could be expected.

Leicester vs Wolves Tip: Under 2.5 goals