Leicester suffered their 6th straight Premier League defeat on Wednesday, as Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run to four games with a 2-0 victory at King Power Stadium.
WATCH – Leicester vs Crystal Palace full match replay
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi got the goals for the Eagles (24 points - 14th), who are now a comfortable eight points above the relegation zone. Crystal Palace was dealt a significant transfer blow this week when Chelsea recalled defender Trevoh Chalobah from his loan and Oliver Glasner’s side rode their luck just a bit as the Foxes had 21 shots but put just four of them on target and hit the woodwork twice.
Leicester (14 points - 19th), meanwhile, remain two points adrift of safety with 17th-place Ipswich still to play in matchweek 21 (vs Brighton, on Thursday). After picking up a win and draw in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first two games in charge, Leicester have been outscored 16-2 during their six-game slide.
Make-or-break time for USMNT’s Richards following Chalobah loan recall
USMNT defender Chris Richards has often found himself the last man out and the first man in along Palace’s backline since he arrived at the club in the summer of 2022. Multiple managers have used him in a super-utility role, as the top backup at center back and a capable option at right back as well. The 24-year-old made 23 starts in the PL last campaign, but the late-season switch to Oliver Glasner saw him land on the outside looking in once again this summer, as Chalobah was brought in and quickly became a starter once he was fit. Richards seems to be a perfect fit in Glasner’s three-center back system, but a hamstring injury meant he logged zero minutes from Sept. 21 to Dec. 3 and Palace went on a bit of a roll around that time (just two defeats in their last 13 PL games). For Palace’s sake and the USMNT’s sake, fingers crossed for good health and form these next four months.
Player ratings - Leicester vs Crystal Palace
What’s next?
- West Ham vs Crystal Palace — Saturday, 10 am ET
- Leicester vs Fulham — Saturday, 10 am ET
How to watch Leicester vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (January 15)
Venue: King Power Stadium — Leicester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Leicester vs Crystal Palace live updates - by Andy Edwards
Leicester vs Crystal Palace live score: 0-2
Goalscorers: Jean-Philippe Mateta (52'), Marc Guehi (78')
GOAL! Leicester 0-2 Crystal Palace: Guehi turns home Eze’s free kick (78')
GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Crystal Palace: Mateta finishes Sarr’s through ball (52')
Leicester starting lineup
Stolarczyk - Justin, Vestergaard, Faes, Kristiansen - Winks, Soumare, El Khannous - Buonanotte, Mavididi, Vardy
Crystal Palace starting lineup
Henderson - Richards, Lacroix, Guehi - Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell - Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s new manager bump evaporated very quickly with the Foxes picking up four points from his first two games in charge, then losing the next five in a row. Leicester are in the relegation zone but are just two points from safety and that is exactly where the new boys would have expected to be this season.
Crystal Palace are lower down the table than they would have hoped (just five points above the relegation zone) but have picked up form under Oliver Glasner with just one defeat in their last eight games. Palace stars Mateta and Eze are getting back to their best after a slow start to the season and they will fancy their chances of catching Leicester on the counter.
Leicester City team news, focus
Van Nistelrooy has plenty of attacking options but the quartet of Vardy, Ayew, Buonanotte and El Khannous have been his go-to guys in recent weeks and they are causing problems on the counter. Defensively Leicester have to improve and that is the key to their survival hopes.
OUT: Mads Hermansen (groin), Wilfred Ndidi (thigh), Ricardo Pereira (thigh), Abdul Fatawu (knee - out for season), Odsonne Edouard (unable to face parent club) | QUESTIONABLE: Jannik Vestergaard (knock)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
Palace’s plan is pretty simple: get Mateta the ball early and let Eze and Sarr run off him. That works brilliant and that trio are looking really dangerous. Defensively the Eagles are solid and Glasner will now hope they can kick on in the second half of the season just like they did last season.
OUT: Adam Wharton (groin), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Matheus Franca (groin)
Leicester City vs Crystal Palace prediction
This feels like it will be a very tight game between two teams who love to counter-attack. Palace have the better defense and finishers, so go for them to edge it. Leicester City 1-3 Crystal Palace.
