Leicester vs Leeds predictions: Stalemate likely at King Power

Two teams desperate for a win in the Premier League go head to head when Leicester host Leeds on Thursday.

The Foxes sit rock-bottom of the table as they go in search of just their second win of the league campaign, having so far only beaten fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest this term.

Leeds, who have nine points from their first nine games of the campaign, started the season positively with early wins against both Wolves and Chelsea, but their 3-0 success over the Blues on August 21 was their last victory.

Team news

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers will have to do without key playmaker James Maddison, who misses the encounter after picking up a fifth yellow card of the campaign in the goalless stalemate with Crystal Palace last time out.

Wilfred Ndidi (thigh), Ricardo Pereira (Achilles) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) are still sidelined with their respective injuries, while a calf issue might also keep veteran defender Jonny Evans out.

As for Leeds, after injury issues once again at the start of the campaign, the Whites have welcomed back the likes of forwards Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo in recent weeks, while defender Junior Firpo is also back available.

Only Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Archie Gray and Leo Hjelde remain as the longer-term absentees out on the sidelines.

Bamford will be pushing for a starting role after impressing off the bench in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal.

The one-cap England international missed a penalty in the encounter at Elland Road but caused the Arsenal defence plenty of problems with his second-half display.

The stats

These sides have faced each other four times since Leeds ended their 16-year wait to return to the Premier League back in 2020.

Leicester edge the head-to-head record in that time, winning two of the encounters, losing one and drawing the other.

The Foxes' only victory so far this season came at the King Power Stadium with a 4-0 victory against East Midlands rivals Forest.

In Leicester's four other home games, they have only managed three goals.

Maddison is the club's leading goalscorer this season after finding the back of the net five times in nine appearances.

Leeds have managed just one win in their last seven Premier League away games under boss Jesse Marsch.

Crucially, that win was a 2-1 success at Brentford on the final day of last season to keep the West Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League.

Prediction

This is likely to be a cagey affair between two sides desperate to end their winless runs — Leicester come into the clash on the back of a loss and a draw, while Leeds are on a six-game sequence without victory.

However, the pair look pretty evenly matched and this encounter might well end in a stalemate at the King Power.

Harvey Barnes has an excellent goal record against Leeds, having scored in all of his last five games against them.

Barnes is 27/10 with LiveScore Bet to score anytime at the King Power on Thursday, while a draw on the night is available at 23/10.