Match Preview
Leicester City v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 22 24/25 at King Power Stadium
Saturday 18th January 2025 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)
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Fulham face relegation-threatened Leicester City at the King Power Stadium for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Cottagersand the Foxes butt heads for the first time since the end of August when the latter secured a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
Fulham's nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions and eight-game unbeaten Premier League run - their longest in the division for almost two decades - came to an end on Tuesday night, as they were beaten 3-2 by Graham Potter's West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Antonee Robinson registered his eighth and ninth assists of the season as he set up Alex Iwobi's two second-half goals, the second of those netted 12 minutes from time set up a nervy finish for the hosts. However, Fulham were unable to find a late equaliser and were eventually condemned to their first defeat since November last year.
Marco Silva insisted after the match that "the better team lost" in East London and "the result could have been completely different if we were clinical". Nevertheless, Fulham now sit 10th in the table and are only five points behind the top seven as well as seven points behind fifth spot.
Fulham have had no issues with scoring on the road in recent weeks, as they have netted in each of their last nine Premier League away matches - their longest scoring streak away from home in the division.
The Cottagers can be confident of success on Saturday, as they have won six of their 11 Premier League meetings with Leicester (D3 L2); against no other team they have played at least 10 times in the division do they boast a higher win rate (55%, also against Bolton Wanderers).
Since winning his opening Premier League game as Leicester head coach at the beginning of December, Ruud van Nistelrooy has failed to lead his new team to victory in any of their last seven top-flight matches, including six straight defeats in which they have conceded at least two goals.
Foxes supporters were left frustrated on Wednesday night as they watched their side suffer their third consecutive home defeat without scoring, registering just four of their 21 shots on target in a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
Only once have Leicester endured a longer losing run in the Premier League than their current six-game streak - losing eight matches in a row between March and April 2001 under former boss Peter Taylor.
Sitting 19th in the Premier League table, last season's Championship winners are in danger of dropping straight back down to the second tier, but they are only two points adrift of safety and Van Nistelrooy knows that a quick upturn in form could see them climb the table.
Leicester have picked up nine of their 14 Premier League points at the King Power Stadium this season, but they head into this weekend's contest having lost their last two home meetings, including their most recent (1-0) in January 2023.
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Fulham are looking for a fourth consecutive win over Leicester.
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The Cottagers are also targeting a third victory in a row at the King Power Stadium.
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This is the 12th Premier League fixture between the sides, with at least one of the sides newly promoted to the top flight in every meeting.
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Fulham's eight-match unbeaten Premier League run came to an end with defeat at West Ham in midweek.
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Marco Silva's side have scored two goals in each of their last three Premier League games but have failed to win any of them (D2, L1).
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Their only clean sheet in the past 11 competitive fixtures came in a goalless Premier League home draw against Southampton last month.
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However, they have scored in each of their last nine Premier League away matches on the road, their longest away scoring streak in the top flight.
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Alex Iwobi has scored in his last two Premier League appearances against Leicester, including the winner in the reverse fixture in August.
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Antonee Robinson has provided nine assists in this season's top flight, more than any other defender.
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Leicester have lost six successive Premier League matches, their worst streak in the top flight since a run of eight defeats in 2001.
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They have lost their last three home league games, conceding a total of seven goals without scoring.
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Leicester have lost six of their eight Premier League games under Ruud van Nistelrooy (W1, D1), which is more than he lost in the entire season with PSV in 2022-23 (W23, D6, L5).
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Leicester have won just one of their last 10 league games against London sides (D2, L7).
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Source Oliver Thomas, at SportsMole/BBCSports