Leicester City vs Watford. Premier League.
The King Power StadiumAttendance31,628.
Saturday 6 May 2017 14:00, UK
Riyad Mahrez is in line for a record-making 100th Premier League appearance for Leicester as they host Watford on Saturday.
The winger will become the first Algerian to reach the milestone if he makes it onto the field, and has also scored against the Hornets in the last two league meetings between the sides.
Leicester got back to winning ways last weekend after failing to pick up a victory in five games in all competitions as they beat West Brom 1-0 at The Hawthorns.
But Watford have lost their last two Premier League games against Hull and Liverpool without scoring, which has left them hovering on the 40 point mark.
While they look safe from the drop - now eight points away from 18th spot - manager Walter Mazzarri will be no doubt be looking for a strong finish from his Hornets side in their final four games.
Leicester captain Wes Morgan will continue to sit out for the Foxes as he nurses a hamstring injury.
The defender will return to training next week and could be fit for the trip to Manchester City next weekend but will miss Saturday's match.
Nampalys Mendy had an ankle operation last month and is out for the remainder of the season but will be fit for the start of pre-season.
Watford will monitor defender Jose Holebas, who has a foot injury, but Miguel Britos has been ruled out with a muscle problem in his lower leg which forced him off after just 19 minutes against Liverpool on Monday Night Football.
Craig Cathcart (knee) and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) are also still sidelined, along with Roberto Pereyra (knee) and Mauro Zarate (anterior cruciate ligament).
Leicester City have lost just one of their previous five Premier League games against Watford, but this was in November 2016 (W3 D1).
Watford have gone 15 matches against the Foxes in any competition without keeping a clean sheet, last shutting them out in February 2008 in the Championship.
The Foxes have claimed 40 points this season in the Premier League, 41 less than their final points total from their title-winning season but just one adrift of their points tally in 2014/15.
Leicester City have won all four of their Premier League home games under Craig Shakespeare - only three managers have ever won their first five at home in the competition (Manuel Pellegrini - 11, Sven Goran Eriksson - 9 and Carlo Ancelotti - 7).
Jamie Vardy has scored nine goals in his last 13 competitive appearances for Leicester City, this after netting just six goals in his previous 31 apps for the club in 2016-17.
Watford (40 points) still need five points from their remaining four matches to equal their 45-point tally from last season under Quique Sanchez Flores.
The Hornets defeated Leicester City at Vicarage Road earlier this season (2-1). They have only defeated a side both home and away in a single Premier League season on two occasions before - Aston Villa and Newcastle United, both in 2015-16.
It's difficult to look past Leicester in this game. I watched Watford in defeat against 10-man Hull and they were poor. They put up more of a fight against Liverpool on Monday and could have got a result, but it's difficult to see them getting anything at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester have done brilliantly since Craig Shakespeare came in and he'll have them up for this. He's got a great opportunity of getting this job and he fully deserves it. A win will certainly help his case and he'll have his players up for the challenge.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Leicester are just 4/7 with Sky Bet to secure the three points, with Watford a 19/4 chance as the draw is priced at 3/1. The bookmakers are expecting goals in this one, with three or more priced at 4/5, while a goalless affair is 11/1. Jamie Vardy is the clear favourite in the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 while Troy Deeney is rated the visitors' main threat at 8/1 to break the deadlock.
Leicester v Watford is included in this weekend's Super 6 line-up, with £250,000 up for grabs again following jackpot wins in the last two rounds. Enter your predictions for free here.
