Leicester vs Sheffield United preview, team news, prediction, kick-off, channel
Watch Leicester vs Sheffield United live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Arena from 5.55pm; Kick-off 6pm
Thursday 16 July 2020 21:15, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Leicester vs Sheffield United in the Premier League on Thursday (kick-off 6pm).
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Team news
Leicester will be without defender Caglar Soyuncu through suspension.
Soyuncu was shown a straight red card in the 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth for Callum Wilson and will miss all three remaining games of the season.
Ben Chilwell (foot) and James Maddison (hip) remain doubts for the Foxes, who are looking to get their top-four push back on track.
Sheffield United could have John Fleck back from injury.
The midfielder has struggled with a groin problem since the restart but Ben Osborn has starred in his place and boss Chris Wilder is unlikely to take any unnecessary risks.
Wilder, whose side are also chasing European football, admitted a couple of his players have "bangs and bruises" after an impressive 3-0 win over Chelsea last time out but expects they will be ready to go at the King Power.
How to follow
Leicester vs Sheffield United is live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Arena from 5.55pm; Kick-off 6pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
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Charlie Nicholas' prediction
What a cracking game this is. All of a sudden, with the suspensions and mistakes, Leicester look like they are struggling to make the top four. It was an embarrassing result at Bournemouth. The quality and work they put in for the first part of the season, sitting above City in second for large parts, could be undone, and Brendan Rodgers will be thinking the same.
Jonny Evans made a couple of mistakes, while Caglar Soyuncu received a stupid red card - the club should fine him for his behaviour - but the lack of quality in midfield is haunting the Foxes.
Sheffield United are a beast of a team and they are taking everyone on. They have great energy and bombing full-backs. They have never been in Europe in their history and this would be amazing for Chris Wilder. If fairness counted, the Blades deserve to get a place in Europe.
They are way above anywhere I could have thought, and maybe where they would have thought too. Their football is eye-catching and it is quite incredible what they have done. If it has to go long it will go long, but it's not route one. They play adaptable football - the manager is still fiery and showing his true fan feelings too.
It has to be advantage Sheffield United right now, they are the team going after it. Leicester are under scrutiny, and I fear they will feel the pressure here.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
- This is the first time Leicester are hosting Sheffield United in a league match since November 2010 (2-2 in the Championship), and the first time in a top-flight match since February 1976 (1-1).
- Sheffield United haven't lost both league matches in a season against Leicester since 1928-29 in the top-flight, with this the 38th different campaign they've faced them in since then.
- Since the start of February, Leicester have won just two of their 11 Premier League games (D5 L4), however both of those victories have come at the King Power Stadium (vs Aston Villa and Crystal Palace).
- Having failed to win any of their first three Premier League matches back after the restart (D1 L2), Sheffield United have gone unbeaten in their last four (W3 D1) and will be aiming to pick up three consecutive victories in the competition for the first time since December.
- Leicester will be aiming to keep four consecutive home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since February 2016, in their title winning campaign under Claudio Ranieri (a run of five).
- With 54 points from their opening 35 games this season, only four newly promoted sides have won more points than Sheffield United at this stage of Premier League campaign, with Ipswich in 2000-01 the last to do so (62 points).
