Leicester v Norwich preview: Foxes look to recover from Arsenal loss
Saturday 27 February 2016 15:05, UK
Premier League leaders Leicester will be looking to get their title challenge back on track when they host Norwich on Saturday.
The Foxes saw their lead at the top cut to two points after a last-gasp defeat to Arsenal in their previous match on February 14.
Manager Claudio Ranieri decided to give the players a week off after the defeat and says they have come back refreshed.
"The benefit was they came back how they left, the same, and that is good because they enjoy, they recharged the batteries," he said.
"Never have I given players one week off - maximum three days when I was crazy."
Norwich, who are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, used their time off to go to Abu Dhabi for a warm weather training camp.
Alex Neil's side have conceded 18 goals in their last six games and have not won since January 2.
Team news
Daniel Amartey could make his Leicester debut after his January move from FC Copenhagen.
The midfielder will be in the squad after improving his match sharpness following the winter break in Denmark.
Jeff Schlupp has returned to training after three months out with a hamstring problem, but is unlikely to feature, while Danny Simpson is suspended following his red card at Arsenal.
Alex Tettey returns from suspension for Norwich after missing the last two matches for picking up 10 yellow cards this season.
Neil welcomes Vadis Odjidja Ofoe back into the squad after overcoming an ankle injury but Andre Wisdom (knee) is still unavailable.
Opta stats
Norwich have won just one and lost nine of the last 12 Premier League away games.
Only Riyad Mahrez (24) has been involved in more Premier League goals (scored and assisted) than Jamie Vardy (22) this season.
Leicester have conceded just three goals in their last eight Premier League matches at the King Power Stadium and have gone six hours and 13 minutes since they last conceded on home soil.
The winning side in the last three league meetings between Leicester and Norwich have scored a penalty. Leicester have won more penalties than any other team in the Premier League this season (10).
Jamie Vardy has won more penalties in the Premier League this season alone (six) than all of the other 19 Premier League teams.
Merson's prediction
These are the games I worry about for Leicester. They are the matches that will define whether they win the league or not. Norwich will go to the King Power Stadium and sit with 10 men behind the ball. They are not going to the Leicester of last season where Norwich will think 'we can go there and beat them.' They are the league leaders.
This is the problem Leicester will have. Can they break down sides with 10 men behind the ball? However, I do think Leicester will win this game. Norwich are on a bit of slump so I think Claudio Ranieri's men will win 2-1 and I fancy Jamie Vardy to open the scoring.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet Odds 7/1)
Betting
Leicester are 8/15 with Sky Bet to bounce back from their Emirates heartbreak by seeing off 5/1 chances Norwich, while the draw is a 16/5 chance. The Foxes drifted out from favourites to 11/4 to win the Premier League following their last-gasp defeat to Arsenal, while their visitors are currently odds-on to face relegation at 4/6.
Jamie Vardy heads the first goalscorer betting at just 3/1 while none of Norwich's attacking options are shorter than 10/1 in the market. The King Power clash is part of this weekend's Super 6 line-up, with a bumper £1m jackpot up for grabs.