Two clubs mired in relegation trouble and under new management face off at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday, when Leicester City host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Gary O'Neil was sacked last weekend after Wolves' fourth straight defeat, and the club moved swiftly to bring in Vitor Pereira from Al-Shabab as his replacement.
Match preview
Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Nelson Semedo in October 2024.© Imago
Many of the headlines in the Premier League last weekend surrounded Wolves, given their late collapse against Ipswich Town, the subsequent ugly scenes following the final whistle, and the sacking of O'Neil the next day.
O'Neil was given one more chance by the Wolves board to turn his fortunes around, but failed in that objective, conceding a 94th-minute goal to go down 2-1 at home to the newly promoted side.
Following the final whistle, for the second game running, scuffles broke out on the pitch with Wolves players, resulting in a red card for Rayan Ait-Nouri and potential ban pending FA confirmation for Matheus Cunha.
That came after Mario Lemina's outburst at West Ham United which saw him stripped of the captaincy, but it is unclear whether that could be reinstated with Pereira now in charge and set to be on the sidelines for the trip to Leicester.
The Portuguese boss will be looking to end a run of four consecutive defeats, the last three of which have all come against clubs currently in the bottom seven, in dismal circumstances.
Wolverhampton Wanderers duo Toti Gomes and Mario Lemina in December 2024.© Imago
Everton's 4-0 win over them contributed to 29% of their goals tally so far this season, West Ham's victory saved their own manager's job, and they handed Ipswich just a second win on their return to the top flight.
With another newly-promoted team up next, Wolves will be looking to avoid losing consecutive games to such teams for the first time in over 40 years, and they will also seek to make up the three-point buffer they gave Ipswich last weekend.
Only Barnsley in 1997-98 and Sheffield United a year ago have conceded more goals than Wolves' 40 in the opening 16 games of a Premier League season, while a quite astonishing 16 of those have come via free kicks and corners.
Looking to take advantage of that will be Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester, who will still be reeling from a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United last week.
The Dutchman made a dream start, taking four points from his first two games against West Ham and Brighton, moving them onto 14 points, but there were some warning signs that should have been flashing ahead of their drubbing at St James' Park.
Van Nistelrooy is certainly more open and expansive than his predecessor Steve Cooper, seeing his team score five goals in two home games so far, compared to six in six under the Welshman, but the win over West Ham was a smash and grab, and they needed two very late goals to salvage a point against Brighton.
Jamie Vardy for Leicester City on December 8, 2024© Imago
Leicester have allowed 73 shots on their goal in three games since Van Nistelrooy arrived, something which is simply not sustainable, especially when they are still relying on Jamie Vardy for a huge amount of their attacking output, a man who turns 38 next month.
The Foxes remained 17th, but saw Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham all pick up points around them over the weekend, meaning they must capitalise on a favourable fixture here to catch up.
History suggests they will, because Leicester have a superb record over Wolves, still unbeaten in their six all-time home Premier League meetings - winning four and drawing twice.
Even in their relegation season of 2022-23, Leicester did the league double over Wolves, even winning 4-0 at Molineux, while they have won five of the last six meetings at the King Power.
Leicester City Premier League form:
Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:
Team News
Rayan Ait Nouri for Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 14, 2024© Imago
Leicester will be sweating over the fitness of Mads Hermansen after he was forced off at half time last week, with many supporters not overly convinced by his understudy Danny Ward, the man who was between the stick when they were relegated two seasons ago.
In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi is edging closer to a return from injury after Harry Winks did last weekend, while Boubakary Soumare will definitely be available to Van Nistelrooy after serving his one-match suspension last weekend.
Odsonne Edouard remains doubtful as he continues his recovery from a recent setback, but Facundo Buonanotte should return to the starting XI after only being fit enough for the bench at Newcastle.
A new manager may often signify a new tactical shape, but for Wolves, Pereira did play with a back three at Al-Shabab, similar to how O'Neil set the team up before his sacking.
Ait-Nouri is suspended following his red card after the final whistle last weekend, and Cunha could face the same fate once an FA investigation is finalised after he elbowed an Ipswich staff member during the fracas.
Joao Gomes is back from suspension, while Boubacar Traore and Pablo Sarabia are also close to comebacks from injury, but Jose Sa may remain out of the team even if he recovers from a shoulder problem, following his underwhelming form.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Justin, Vestergaard, Coady, Kristiansen; Soumare, Skipp; McAteer, Buonanotte, El Khannouss; Vardy
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Nelson Semedo, Bueno, Toti; Doherty, Andre, Lemina, R Gomes; Joao Gomes, Cunha, Strand Larsen
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We say: Leicester City 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
On paper, Wolves have the superior squad, especially with the attacking talent in their ranks, and the visitors will hope a new manager bounce can guide them to victory, while Cunha is still available to them.
Just seven goals have been scored in the six PL meetings between the sides at the King Power, but that will almost certainly not be repeated here, given the respective defensive records of the two so far this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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