Leicester v Manchester City preview: Jamie Vardy targets Foxes start

By James Walker-Roberts

Image: Jamie Vardy has scored 15 goals in the Premier League

Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy is expected to be fit for Leicester when they host Manchester City on Tuesday.

The striker was withdrawn after 69 minutes of the Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool and manager Claudio Ranieri revealed afterwards that the England international was playing with a fever.

The Foxes have not lost back-to-back games this season but a win for Man City would draw the two sides level on 38 points.

Man City, however, have not won an away game in the league since they beat Crystal Palace on September 12.

Team news

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Riyad Mahrez, who was substituted against the Reds because of fatigue, should also be fit for the Foxes.

Danny Drinkwater resumed training with the team on Sunday after a hamstring injury and could feature after missing the last two games, but Jeff Schlupp (hamstring) remains out.

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Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne feels sympathy for Vincent Kompany.

Man City have injury concerns of their own as captain Vincent Kompany lasted less than 10 minutes of their Boxing Day win over Sunderland after coming on as a substitute.

The defender suffered a recurrence of the calf injury that kept him out for eight games and could now face another spell on the sidelines.

But striker Sergio Aguero, who is being eased back after heel trouble, could feature after being an unused substitute at the weekend.

Defender Pablo Zabaleta and midfielder Fernando are back in training but not yet match fit.

Opta stats

Leicester lost both of their league meetings with Man City last season, but they've not lost three successive league games against the Citizens since August 1961.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last five league away trips to Leicester (W3 D2).

Leicester ended 2012, 2013 and 2014 with a victory in their final league game of the calendar year.

Image: Vincent Kompany had to be subbed off against Sunderland

Man City have not suffered a defeat in their final league game of a calendar year since a 1-4 home loss to Charlton Athletic in December 2000.

Leicester have scored in each of their last 14 Premier League home games.

Merson's prediction

We have to start holding our hands up regarding Leicester. The Liverpool result was a setback but they've got a great chance to put that right straight away at the King Power Stadium, where they've been superb.

If they go on to beat Manchester City, then we have to really start taking them seriously, and they would have to be second favourites for the league. I'm going for a draw.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Manchester City are Sky Bet's 17/20 favourites for victory with high-flying Leicester 16/5 while the draw is priced at 29/10. Pellegrini's men are now joint 6/5 favourites to secure the title with the Foxes 10/11 for a top four finish despite suffering their first away defeat of the season at Liverpool on Boxing Day.

Vardy and Aguero are subjects of pre-match Price Boosts at 13/2 and 9/4 respectively in the score and win market, while Mahrez is also boosted from 7/1 to 9/1 to score first. Mahrez is also the pick of Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Matt Le Tissier and Phil Thompson to score first. See all their Sky Bet picks here.

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