Leicester City vs West Ham United
King Power Stadium, Leicestershire
Wednesday, 22-01-2020 @10:30pm
Ref: David Coote
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is nearing a return after three matches out with a knee injury and may be included in the match-day squad.Hamza Choudhury and Ben Chilwell should feature after being left out against Burnley.
West Ham forward Felipe Anderson has been ruled out for a month with a back injury, while Andriy Yarmolenko will not be available until mid-February. Michail Antonio is set to miss a fifth game with a thigh problem.
Leicester have lost just one of their past 10 Premier League games against West Ham (W5, D4), a 2-0 home defeat in May 2018. West Ham have won only twice in 10 Premier League away meetings (D4, L4).
Leicester’s four defeats in six Premier League games is only one fewer than in their first 27 league matches under Brendan Rodgers. The defeat against Southampton was a second in a row at home, having lost only once at the King Power Stadium in the previous 15 league fixtures. The Foxes have conceded 12 goals in their last six Premier League fixtures, one more than in their opening 17 matches. Brendan Rodgers could lose three league games in a row for the first time since November 2014 with Liverpool. The Foxes have conceded just one goal from a corner, the best record of any Premier League team, along with Liverpool. Leicester’s tally of eight clean sheets is bettered only by Liverpool’s nine. Ricardo Pereira is the Premier League’s top tackler in 2019-20, winning 96 of his challenges. Team-mate Wilfred Ndidi is second on 82. Leicester’s last nine league goals were scored by nine different players.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Norwich City
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Wednesday, 22-01-2020 @10:30pm
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Norwich are looking to avoid home and away defeats by Spurs for only the second time in a Premier League season, having done so in 2012-13. The Canaries have won twice at Spurs in the Premier League, in 1993 and 2012.
Spurs are winless in four league games, having won five of their opening seven under Jose Mourinho. Tottenham’s tally of 31 points is 20 fewer than they had at this stage of last season. They are guaranteed to have fewer than 41 points after 24 matches for the first time since 2008-09. They have failed to score in the league since drawing 2-2 at Norwich on 28 December. They could equal their Premier League club record of four consecutive matches without scoring. Spurs have won only one of the last eight league games that Harry Kane did not play in, and have scored just four goals from 104 shot attempts in those matches.
Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has recovered from the hip injury he suffered on New Year’s Day. They, however, remain without Ben Davies, Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris and Moussa Sissoko.
Norwich defender Ben Godfrey is suspended following his sending off against Bournemouth. Emiliano Buendia has been ruled out with a muscle problem and joins Timm Klose, Mario Vrancic and Ralf Fahrmann on the sidelines.
Man United vs Burnley
Old Trafford, Manchester
Wednesday, 22-01-2020 @11:15pm
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Manchester United are aiming to do the league double against Burnley for the first time since 1976, following a 2-0 win at Turf Moor last month. Burnley are winless in 15 top-flight away meetings since a 5-2 victory in September 1962 (D7, L8). The Clarets have drawn on their last three league visits to Old Trafford, throwing away a two-goal lead in the past two seasons. Burnley were victorious in the first Premier League meeting but are since winless in all 10 (D4, L6).
Manchester United’s top scorer Marcus Rashford is expected to be out for at least two months with a stress fracture in his back. Defender Victor Lindelof is a doubt because of illness, with Eric Bailly or Phil Jones set to deputise.
Burnley have no new injury concerns for the trip to Old Trafford, with Johann Berg Gudmundsson nearing match fitness following a thigh problem. Ashley Barnes has had a hernia operation and faces up to a month out.
Manchester United have won three and lost three of their past six league matches. United’s tally of 34 points is their lowest after 23 matches of a top-flight season since 1989-90. However, the Red Devils have sustained just one home defeat in the Premier League this season, 2-1 to Crystal Palace on 24 August. They can score four goals in three consecutive home league fixtures for the first time since November 1997. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was made permanent manager in March 2019, United have lost 11 of 31 league games (W11, D9), while their tally of 42 points ranks them eighth in the division. They have been awarded nine penalties this season, four more than any other Premier League team. However, United have missed four of those penalties. Anthony Martial has scored in all three of his Premier League games against Burnley. Marcus Rashford has missed just 15 of United’s 148 league games since his debut.
Tuesday’s results
-Aston Villa 2-1 Watford
-Bournemouth 3-1 Brighton
-Everton 2-2 Newcastle United
-Sheffield United 0-1 Man City
-Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton
-Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
Thursday’s fixture
-Wolves vs Liverpool @11pm
