Leicester v Sunderland preview: Claudio Ranieri seeks winning start
Saturday 8 August 2015 16:38, UK
Claudio Ranieri will be hoping to continue Leicester's end-of-season momentum when they host Sunderland in their opening 2015/16 fixture.
Leicester won seven of their last nine Premier League matches to escape relegation in miraculous style last season, with their survival confirmed after a goalless draw at Sunderland on the penultimate day.
Despite their late surge, manager Nigel Pearson was sacked in the summer and replaced by Ranieri, who has signed N'Golo Kante and Yohan Benalouane to strengthen the squad.
Sunderland have stuck with the manager that helped them avoid the drop last season and Dick Advocaat will be hoping the Black Cats get off to a better start than in 2014/15, when they won just one of their opening nine games.
Last season’s top scorer Connor Wickham has left the Stadium of Light for Crystal Palace, but France international Yann M'Vila has joined on a season-long loan and Jeremain Lens has signed from Lens to link up with his former manager again.
Team news
New Leicester signings Kante and Benalouane will be assessed after joining up with the squad this week.
Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki could make their debuts after joining before Ranieri's appointment while captain Wes Morgan is available after playing in Jamaica's Gold Cup campaign.
Jordi Gomez (knee) is set to be the only player unavailable to Advocaat while new signings Younes Kaboul, Lens and M'Vila could all start.
Wes Brown and Steven Fletcher are both hoping to shrug off minor knocks.
Merson's prediction
I backed Leicester to avoid relegation last season. Even when they were struggling, I said they would stay up because I saw some good performances from them.
I don't have a good feeling for them at the moment after what's happened with the sacking of Nigel Pearson. Saying that, I think they will win this game because Sunderland look as though they have a long hard season lying ahead of them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Stats
Leicester are unbeaten in their last four opening league games (W3 D1) since a 3-2 defeat v Crystal Palace in 2010.
The last Sunderland manager to win a Premier League game on the opening weekend was Steve Bruce against Bolton in 2009 (D4 L1 since).
Sunderland have won one of the last seven Premier League meetings against Leicester (D3 L3).
Sunderland have never won a Premier League fixture at Leicester, failing to score in the last three top-flight games here.
Leicester scored 46 goals last season - more than any other side in the bottom nine.
Betting
Claudio Ranieri's Leicester are Sky Bet's 10/11 favourites to get their new season off to a winning start against 16/5 shots Sunderland. Both sides narrowly avoided the drop last season but are among the favourites to be relegated with the Black Cats 15/8 and the Foxes 11/4.
There were no goals in both meetings last season and Sky Bet offer 8/1 for a third successive goalless draw, while any draw is available at 12/5. Leonardo Ulloa is a 5/1 favourite to net the opener for Leicester with Jermain Defoe 13/2 to break the deadlock for the visitors.
Leicester also figure in Sky Bet's Soccer Saturday Price Boost along with Bournemouth and Everton all to win their matches, boosted from 7/1 to 10/1.
