Leicester City will attempt to consolidate first position in the Premier League table when they travel to dangerously out-of-form Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The Foxes will enter the clash five points clear of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, while a 12-game winless run in the league has seen Palace drop into 15th position.
Crystal Palace
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As the end of 2016 approached, Palace were mentioned as possible challengers for a top-four place this season. An excellent first half of the campaign rightly led to widespread praise, but their form has tailed off to such an extent that they are actually now just two places outside of the bottom three.
Indeed, Palace have not collected all the points in a league match since December 19, when they won at Stoke. They have failed to win in 12 league fixtures since then and collected just four points in the process. What's more, the Eagles have lost each of their last five Premier League fixtures on home soil.
A spot in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Reading last time out, has eased the pressure on Alan Pardew, but their 2-1 defeat against Liverpool on March 6 left them in 15th spot. Eight points currently separate Palace from the bottom three, however, and it would still take a lot for them to be seriously dragged into the argument.
Pardew, however, might well have some concerns when he looks at the fixture list. After this one, Palace will travel to in-form West Ham United, before facing trips to Arsenal and Manchester United in two of their next three. The winless run has to come to an end at some point, but they have some very tough games ahead.
"The route is clear for them, they're favourites. I take my hat off to them, they've been brilliant. In all the games they've won recently it's been really tight and I expect it to be the same against us. We'll be hoping for a result," Pardew told reporters when questioned on Leicester at his pre-match press conference.
The injury bug has hit Pardew hard this season, but key players have started to return and when looking at their squad, they should have more than enough to escape relegation trouble. That will not be enough for the supporters, however, who had their sights set on a possible European spot this term.
Recent form: LDLLDL
Recent form (all competitions): LWLDLW
Leicester
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Still Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri and the players themselves deny talk of winning the league, but there has to come a point where the Foxes must believe that they can win what would be the most incredible title victory in the Premier League era.
Monday's 1-0 win over Newcastle United ensured that Leicester would remain five points clear of second-placed Spurs entering this weekend's fixtures and they are also 11 points clear of third-placed Arsenal, who face a very difficult trip to Everton in Saturday's early start. Ranieri's side had a little wobble when they lost at Arsenal and drew with West Bromwich Albion, but have won their last two in the league without conceding.
Indeed, 18 wins have arrived from Leicester's 30 league fixtures this season. They have scored 53 times, which is the best offensive record in the division, and have only been beaten on three occasions. To put that number into context, Arsenal have suffered seven league defeats this term and Manchester City eight.
In fact, Leicester have lost just five of their last 41 Premier League fixtures and they have the best away record in the division this term - collecting 31 points on their travels. They were supposed to fall away at this stage, but have come through a tough period and can look ahead to some favourable matches.
They will face Sunderland and Swansea City in two of their next four league games, but their final three, on paper, are very tricky. On May 1, they will travel to Manchester United, before facing Everton and then visiting Chelsea on the final weekend of the campaign. They might well already have the title sewn up by then, however, and former Foxes striker Gary Lineker will have to get his underpants ready for Match of the Day next season.
Talk of the title might be banned, but Leicester are currently 14 points clear of fifth-placed West Ham United and even a collapse at this stage would surely not be enough to force them out of a Champions League finish.
Recent form: WLWDWW
Team News
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A hip problem will keep Connor Wickham, who has scored four times in his last two league appearances, on the sidelines for Palace, while Mile Jedinak is expected to miss out due to a troublesome back.
Pardew otherwise has the same squad available from the Reading clash last time out, which should mean another start for Emmanuel Adebayor in the final third. Jason Puncheon is also pushing for a return, while Wayne Hennessey will keep his place between the sticks despite some questionable form.
As for Leicester, Ranieri has no fresh injury concerns from the clash with Newcastle last time out, but Andy King, who has scored in his last two league games against Palace, is set to miss out once again.
Few changes, if any, are expected and central midfield pair Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante will enter the match full of confidence following their first international call-ups for England and France respectively.
Marc Albrighton's position is under threat from Jeffrey Schlupp, who impressed in the second half against Newcastle, but Ranieri is expected to keep with the XI that has placed them in this position.
Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, Ledley, Puncheon; Adebayor, Bolasie
Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Albrighton, Drinkwater, Kante, Mahrez; Vardy, Okazaki
Head To Head
Overall, these two teams have met on 64 occasions in all competitions. Leicester have 24 victories to their name, Palace 23, while the further 17 fixtures finished all square.
In terms of more recent history, Leicester recorded a 1-0 victory when the pair met at the King Power Stadium earlier this season, but Palace were 2-0 winners in the corresponding fixture last term.
We say: Palace 1-1 Leicester
Leicester will fancy their chances of putting another three points on the board this weekend, but Palace certainly have the players to upset the Foxes. The hosts will enter the match seriously out of form, but we are backing the capital side to hold the title challengers to a score draw at Selhurst Park.
Matt Law
