Leicester City vs Tottenham Prediction: Premier League Match Preview
Ange Postecoglou enjoyed a strong first season in charge of Tottenham, and for many neutrals, Spurs were likely one of their favourite teams to watch in 2023-24.
However, they ultimately fell short of Champions League qualification, finishing fifth, and now the task for Postecoglou, who has been backed in the transfer market with big-money additions in Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and now Wilson Odobert, is to build on those solid foundations and add a clinical edge to secure a spot in UEFA’s elite club competition.
Starting away at one of the newly promoted clubs could be tricky, though Spurs have begun their Premier League campaigns against promoted teams on six previous occasions, with their sole defeat coming against Sunderland in 2007.
However, Leicester, who won the Championship last season, are unbeaten on the last nine occasions they have started their league campaign with a home game (W6 D3). That being said, they have lost half of their Premier League games played on Mondays (21/42) – only in Friday games do the Foxes have a higher loss rate in the competition (61.5% – 8/13).
The hosts could do with a morale-boosting start, too. They have sold their best player from last term – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – and also seen manager Enzo Maresca depart, with both heading to Chelsea. They are facing the prospect of a potential points deduction for a breach of the Premier League’s financial regulations, so starting strong could be even more crucial.
Tottenham’s last four Premier League wins of 2023-24 came against each of the sides to finish in the bottom four (Forest, Luton Town, Burnley, Sheffield United). They won all six of their league games against promoted sides last term, accounting for 30% of their overall victories (6/20).
Solanke, who is expected to make his Spurs debut, will have the eyes on him after his club-record £65 million transfer from Bournemouth, though it is Son Heung-min who Leicester might have to be more concerned about.
Son has been involved in 13 goals in 14 Premier League appearances against Leicester (nine goals, four assists), only having a hand in more against Southampton (15). Indeed, the Korean has scored five and assisted once in his last three against the Foxes. Then, of course, former Leicester man James Maddison will throw into the mix on his return to the King Power Stadium. The playmaker contributed to 13 goals in the league last term (four goals, nine assists).
New Foxes boss Cooper will also be shorn of key attackers Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka, both of whom are injured.
Vardy – Leicester’s top scorer in the Championship last season with 18 goals – in particular could be a huge miss given his record against Spurs. The 37-year-old has scored eight Premier League goals against Tottenham, only netting more in his league career against Arsenal and Watford (11 each). Indeed, he has netted seven goals in eight MD1 appearances in the Premier League with only four players scoring more on the opening matchday in the competition’s history (Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Mohamed Salah – eight each).
With no Vardy, it could be a case of ‘no party’ for Leicester.
Leicester City vs Tottenham Head-to-Head
Leicester beat Tottenham 4-1 in their last Premier League meeting in February 2023, last winning consecutive league games against Spurs in October 1999 (a run of three). However, Spurs beat Leicester in the previous four league encounters.
Expect goals in this one. Of all Premier League fixtures to have been played at least 30 times, Leicester against Tottenham has the highest goals-per-game average (3.8 – 128 goals in 34 games). There have been 28 goals scored in the last five meetings between the sides alone (5.6 per game).
Spurs have only failed to score in one of their 17 Premier League away games against Leicester, a 3-0 loss at Filbert Street in September 1997.
PREDICTION: 2 DNB @1.33
