Preview: Leicester City vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the Foxes currently sit at the top of the Championship standings, Preston - in the aforementioned third spot - are trying to bounce back from their heavy defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Match preview

There was a time earlier in the season when Leicester were getting points and wins on the board without particularly looking all that ruthless.

Since the international break, though, the Foxes have netted 11 times in four matches, prevailing against Southampton, Norwich City, Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

Enzo Maresca also witnessed his team push Liverpool in their EFL Cup tie last week before the triumph - by a 4-1 scoreline - at Ewood Park on Sunday.

Jamie Vardy was again among the scorers - netting his third strike in four outings - to keep Leicester at the top of the table, two points clear of Ipswich Town.

Although supporters and critics alike will be starting to regard promotion as a foregone conclusion, Maresca will not, and he will want a ninth league win in 10 matches being posted against a potential rival.

Preston have been one of the surprise teams of the EFL during 2023-24, collecting 20 points from just eight games ahead of Saturday's meeting against West Bromwich Albion.

With the Baggies having performed inconsistently thus far, more points were anticipated, yet Preston were brought back down to earth by a shock 4-0 defeat at Deepdale.

A team that had conceded just six goals beforehand shipped four strikes at regular intervals during what turned into a trouncing by the visitors.

Ryan Lowe must now find a way to galvanise his squad in a bid to prevent their early season work from being undone, Preston also having a trip to second-placed Ipswich to come three days after facing the early frontrunners.

Leicester City Championship form:

W

L

W

W

W

W

Leicester City form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

L

W

Preston North End Championship form:

W

W

W

W

D

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Despite the three-day turnaround, Maresca will keep changes few and far between, although he will be forced into at least one alteration.

Jannik Vestergaard picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at Ewood Park and could be replaced by Conor Coady.

Kasey McAteer will miss out with a hamstring injury sustained after his introduction as a substitute, while Kelechi Iheanacho may stay among the replacements depending on whether Maresca wishes to hand a rest to Vardy.

In response to Preston losing to West Brom, Lowe may recall Robbie Brady at left wing-back, potentially resulting in Liam Millar dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Ben Whiteman is an option in central midfield, but the game may come too soon for Will Keane to be restored to the starting lineup after injury.

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Coady, Justin; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Ledson, Brady; Holmes, Browne; Osmajic

We say: Leicester City 2-0 Preston North End

Having conceded four goals versus West Brom, this is the worst fixture possible for Preston. It may lead to Lowe opting for a more defensive-minded strategy, yet we can still see Leicester having few issues in posting maximum points.

Previews by email