Jamie Vardy will be looking to score his 200th goal on his 500th appearance for Leicester City against Ipswich Town this weekend (Image: PA)
Jamie Vardy will be looking to score his 200th goal on his 500th appearance for Leicester City against Ipswich Town this weekend (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town are back on the road for the last time this season, taking on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Alex Jones previews the action...
15 of Ipswich's 22 Premier League points have come away from home
15 of Ipswich's 22 Premier League points have come away from home
(Image: Ross Halls)
The final trip
So here we are, the final away game of the season. A trip to Leicester.
When the fixtures were released a little over a year ago, this was seen as a big opportunity. Supporters hoped that Ipswich would be in a good position in their relegation battle heading into the run-in, with some favourable matches giving them a real chance of accruing points. This was seen as the big one, the must-win clash.
Unfortunately, their fate was sealed at the end of last month, rendering this game as meaningless in terms of staying up or going down.
It’s a real shame, especially with this game being on the road. Town’s home record has been exceptionally poor, picking up one win and four draws from 18 matches.
Away from Portman Road, however, they have won three and drawn six. Their form suggests that they should feel confident heading to the East Midlands.
They have a real motivation to win the match, too.
The Blues will earn more prize money if they finish above Leicester
The Blues will earn more prize money if they finish above Leicester (Image: Ross Halls)
Battle for 18th
Ahead of the game, Ipswich sit 18th and Leicester sit 19th, with both teams on 22 points. Town are ahead on goal difference alone, with their total of -42 a little better than the Foxes’ -47.
That could be really important, because they will earn around £2.8m more if they finish a place above Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, which would take their total Premier League prize money to about £8.5m (based on last season’s figures).
That might not feel like a lot, especially when considering the huge amount that the club will receive from their equal share payment (around £86.9m) and their facility fees for televised games, but every little helps when it comes to things like Financial Fair Play (FFP), which limits what they can spend in the transfer market.
On top of that, there’s the psychological edge. These two teams will both look to be at the very top of the Championship next season, competing for automatic promotion to the Premier League. A win for either could give them a real confidence boost.
The last three games between Ipswich and Leicester have finished 1-1. Town scored late equalisers in the first two games last season, but the Foxes did the exact same in controversial fashion back in the Premier League back in November. There may be a bit of needle from that game at Portman Road.
The Foxes have suffered two relegations in the space of three seasons (Image: PA)
A torrid time for Leicester
Coming into the Premier League, there was a lot of negativity surrounding Leicester. Fans were well aware that the club’s financial state would limit their recruitment, having escaped a punishment last summer.
Enzo Maresca left the club after securing promotion, joining Chelsea. The Foxes replaced him with Steve Cooper, who was unpopular from the start due to his past at rivals Nottingham Forest. The appointment felt doomed from the start, and so it proved. He was sacked just before Christmas.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed to steer them out of the relegation zone, but it hasn’t worked. In fact, you could argue that they have been worse under the Dutchman.
Between February 1st and April 7th, they lost eight consecutive games without scoring a single goal, ending that streak away at Brighton. They didn’t score at home until May 3rd – a 2-0 win against Southampton in their last game at the King Power Stadium.
That victory against the Saints meant nothing in the end. They were relegated two weeks earlier after a 1-0 loss to Liverpool, an inevitable outcome to a disastrous season.
Supporters have turned on the board and many of the players, creating a toxic atmosphere ahead of their Championship return.
Possible Leicester XI: 4-2-3-1: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi, Skipp; McAteer, Ayew, El Khannous; Vardy
Jamie Vardy will play his last game for Leicester this weekend (Image: PA)
Vardy’s farewell party
Jamie Vardy is a Premier League legend and widely considered to be Leicester’s best ever player. Having started his professional football career late, he went on to achieve greatness with the Foxes, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and various individual accolades.
On April 24th, he announced that he was going to leave the club at the end of the season, ensuring that his last game at the King Power Stadium would be against Ipswich.
However, with 499 appearances and 199 goals to his name, Leicester have confirmed that he will not play against Bournemouth on the final day of the season. His 500th game will also be his last for them.
There will be a pre-match display, with “special souvenir flags in supporter seats” ahead of kick-off. In a statement, the club also confirmed that: “Following the full-time whistle, a series of activity is planned to honour Jamie’s 13 years as a Fox, and for Jamie to lead the team, as well as a host of former team-mates, in thanking everyone in attendance for their support during that unforgettable period.”
Leicester fans will be desperate to see him score against Ipswich. Even neutrals will be keen to see him go out with a bang. The Blues, however, will look to ruin Vardy’s last party.
Leif Davis is available after serving his three-match ban (Image: Ross Halls)
Team news
Ipswich’s injury woes are improving day-by-day.
Leif Davis, who scored against Leicester in the reverse fixture, is back from his three-match ban and is expected to return to the starting lineup. Jacob Greaves has been excellent in his absence, especially considering that he has been playing out of position.
That should see him keep his place in the starting lineup, with Cameron Burgess the most likely to drop out.
Sam Morsy will start and captain the side, having done so alongside Jack Taylor in midfield in the last three games. If Jens Cajuste is fit, he may be given the nod to come in for the Republic of Ireland international.
Julio Enciso and Omari Hutchinson look set to stay in the starting lineup, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Conor Chaplin drop to the bench as he continues to get up to speed following his lengthy injury lay-off.
If Enciso plays through the middle, Jack Clarke could come in on the left. If it’s Hutchinson, Ben Johnson may start on the right.
Then it’s just the striker. Liam Delap feels like the obvious choice, but his performances in the last few weeks have left a lot to be desired, especially as speculation about his future continues to build.
There’s definitely a chance that George Hirst is given the nod instead, giving him an opportunity against his former club.
Possible Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Hutchinson, Enciso, Clarke; Delap
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