Leicester City vs Middlesbrough. Premier League.
The King Power StadiumAttendance32,058.
Saturday 26 November 2016 15:02, UK
Premier League champions Leicester City will want to move away from the relegation zone with a victory over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Leicester are enjoying great success in the Champions League, and qualified for the last 16 as group winners after a narrow 2-1 win over Club Brugge in midweek, but their full focus now turns to the Premier League.
Leicester's struggles in the league have not been helped by Jamie Vardy's form in front of goal. Vardy has not scored in 14 games for the Foxes and Ranieri has revealed he has not been scoring in training during this goal drought either.
Middlesbrough suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to current leaders Chelsea on Super Sunday, and manager Aitor Karanka says he is not concerned about the goal rate of his own marquee striker Alvaro Negredo. Boro have won just twice in the league this season.
Team news
Danny Drinkwater starts his three-game ban after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct.
The England midfielder was punished by the FA after elbowing Valon Behrami, something which was missed by referee Neil Swarbrick at the time, during the Foxes' 2-1 defeat at Watford last week.
Kasper Schmeichel is also out with a fractured hand and while Nampalys Mendy and Ben Chilwell (both ankle) have returned to training they are not yet fit for the champions. Record £30m signing Islam Slimani is expected to return after a groin injury and Leonardo Ulloa has shrugged off a back problem.
Middlesbrough will once again be without defender George Friend for Saturday.
Friend picked up a knee injury in training prior to Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea and is expected to be ruled out for around four weeks.
Brazilian full-back Fabio is expected to keep his place in Friend's absence while Dani Ayala is still absent with an ankle injury.
Opta stats
Leicester City haven't beaten Middlesbrough in the Premier League since a 3-0 victory in November 2000, drawing two and losing three since.
However, Middlesbrough are without a win in their last 12 league clashes with Leicester (D6 L6); their longest current winless streak against any team.
Jamie Vardy has scored in all three of his previous starts against Middlesbrough in league competition (three goals scored).
Claudio Ranieri is unbeaten in each of his last seven Premier League contests versus Middlesbrough (W4 D3), this after losing his first managerial meeting with them in the top flight in December 2000.
Leicester City have already lost twice the number of Premier League games this season (6) as they did in their 2015-16 title-winning campaign (3).
Middlesbrough have won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches (W1 D4 L5).
Riyad Mahrez has found Jamie Vardy with only one pass in the last seven Premier League matches that they have played together (356 mins) and has only created one goalscoring chance for the England forward all season in the competition.
Jamie Vardy has two Premier League goals in 12 appearances this season so far. After 12 league appearances in 2015-16 he had scored 12 goals.
Since the start of last season, Leicester City have scored four more penalties than any other Premier League side (12).
The Foxes have conceded just four goals in their six Premier League home games this season, compared to 16 goals conceded in six away games.
Since he scored on his Premier League debut for Middlesbrough in August, Alvaro Negredo has attempted 20 shots without scoring in his 11 appearances the competition.
Merson's prediction
Now they've qualified as winners of their Champions League group, Leicester have got to concentrate on their league form because at the moment, it's atrocious.
I think Middlesbrough will get a result here. They have played well and only got beaten by Chelsea 1-0 so I think this one will finish a draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Betting
Leicester are Sky Bet's 17/20 favourites with Middlesbrough up against odds of 100/30 while the draw is priced at 5/2.
Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani head a wide-open first goalscorer market at 9/2 apiece, while Alvaro Negredo is considered the visitors' main threat at 15/2.
Aitor Karanka's men are currently 4/1 in the first goalscorer market, while the Foxes' troubled domestic form has seen them cut to 14/1 to face the drop.
