Premier League new boys Leicester City travel to Selhurst Park on the back off a fantastic and unexpected 5-3 victory against Manchester United so Palace best be on their guard with the momentum riding with the Foxes.
However, Palace are also riding a positive wave after securing their first win of the season at Goodison Park on Sunday and having not being beaten in three games. Neil Warnock will be looking to build on that and look towards securing a first home win of the season.
After three straight seasons of failing to gain promotion, Nigel Pearson had one final chance at getting the Midlands side back into the Premier League. This time there was no mistake as Pearson’s side soared to the title though as an impressive run of results. They saw off the challenges of Burnley and Derby County with the Foxes ending the season on 102 points, their highest ever total.
Leicester were handed a tough start to their first campaign with games away at Stoke City and Chelsea and home matches against Arsenal and Swansea City. They have certainly not looked out of place with only a single defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and eight points to their name so far. New singing Leonardo Ulloa’s five goals in five games has certainly begun to show why they paid £6.5m for the Argentinian from Palace’s arch rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
Team News
Leicester City – Both Matthew Upson and Zoumana Bakayogo remain Leicester’s only two absentees having been long term casualties for Nigel Pearson. The Foxes gaffer is likely to stick with an unchanged starting line up after the United win on Sunday. Estoban Cambiasso scored his first goal for the club and is proving to be an instant hit with the King Power faithful. The former Inter Milan playmaker is one of seven new faces to move to the Midlands club having only paid a fee for one.
Crystal Palace – Palace received a boost with Marouane Chamakh set be included in the squad for the first time in four games. A good performace for both Barry Bannan and Jonny Williams may give Neil Warnock a midfield selection headache. Wilfried Zaha played the whole game on Wednesday night but may only feature from the bench in this one. Otherwise there an no new injury concerns for the Eagles.
Analysis and Predictions
My prediction for Leicester City – 15th
Given the inexperience that runs throughout the team at this level, it is hard to predict whether they will continue to excel come the last stretch of matches of the season. I still expect Leicester to be in a relegation dogfight and still with a chance of staying up but whether they do or not will come down to how they adapt and develop throughout the season to the tougher opponents and tactics in the Premier League.
However, with the start they have made the main focus will be building on that form. If injuries are kind to them it seems like Leicester will have no problem in surviving in Engand’s top flight whilst other teams struggle around them. Six of the players who have featured this season have been at one point in their career turned away by Manchester United so it is the hope that it is their loss and Leicester’s gain.
EPL Index prediction – home win
Sky Sports Paul Merson’s prediction – draw
Who Scored prediction – home win
TEB prediction – home win
