Preview: Leicester City vs. Bristol City - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Foxes are favourites to prevail at the King Power Stadium, the visitors have also lost just once in the league during 2023-24 and sit in seventh position.

Match preview

Having failed to score more than twice in a Championship game before the international break, there was a perception that Leicester were not firing on all cylinders under Enzo Maresca.

The East Midlands outfit also went down to Hull City in their previous game, only strengthening that argument, yet Leicester have returned with hugely impressive away victories at Southampton and Norwich City respectively.

Seeing off the Saints by a 4-1 scoreline was ruthless, yet the Foxes had to show their battling qualities to edge out Norwich courtesy of a penalty and late second.

Luck was also on their side - Norwich going close to a leveller on numerous occasions - but Maresca's team now have 18 points from seven games and sit in second position.

One bit of encouragement for the visitors on Saturday is Leicester still awaiting their first league clean sheet at the King Power Stadium in 2023-24.

At a time when other teams around them have been dominating the headlines, Bristol City's start to the season has gone somewhat under the radar.

Nigel Pearson's side have recorded three wins, three draws and just the one defeat - at home to Birmingham City on August 19 - and supporters will be feeling increasingly optimistic about their campaign.

Although they were held to a goalless draw by West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, the Robins responded by thrashing Plymouth Argyle by a 4-1 scoreline three days later.

Goals remain an issue in general with just nine being scored in seven outings, but the constant accumulation of points has left Bristol City in a position where they can move within three of Leicester - one of Pearson's former clubs - with a win on Saturday.

Leicester City Championship form:

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Bristol City Championship form:

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Team News

Maresca tinkered with his Leicester starting lineup for the trip to Carrow Road, with Ricardo Pereira, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jamie Vardy among those all dropping to the substitutes' bench.

However, all three may return for the game on Saturday with Hamza Choudhury, Cesare Casadei and Kelechi Iheanacho potentially losing their spots.

Conor Coady has made a welcome return to the bench after a foot injury, but the defender will have to wait for his first outing in the starting lineup.

With Pearson making full use of his substitutes by the 71st minute in midweek, he may be prepared to name the same Bristol City XI for this contest.

If a change is made, Taylor Gardner-Hickman could return at right-back or in central midfield, but Harry Cornick's goal versus Plymouth is unlikely to earn him a chance from the opening whistle.

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Naismith, Pring; James, Williams; Sykes, Knight, Bell; Wells

We say: Leicester City 2-0 Bristol City

Having previously been undone at home by Hull, Leicester will take nothing for granted against an impressive Robins side. Nevertheless, the Foxes appear to be improving under Maresca and we are backing a professional performance and win to be produced by the title favourites.

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