Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion come up against East-Midlands side- Leicester City as the sides meet for a third time this season.
In the latest meeting, thanks to a late Kelechi Iheanacho winner, Leicester progressed into the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup. In the reverse Premier League fixture, the Foxes beat the Seagulls comfortably by three goals to nil.
Neither side are in the greatest vein of form, as they look for this game to be a turning point.
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Last Five
Brighton & Hove Albion (D-L-D-L-L)
Brighton have been winless in their past five fixtures with the Seagulls’ form dipping recently. They’ll be looking to change that on Saturday, having a good record in big games.
Brighton travelled to Turf Moor to face Burnley, looking for a third consecutive win after back to back victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s equaliser cancelled out Lewis Dunk's first half goal as Brighton left Lancashire with a point. Following on from their draw, Graham Potter's men and Leicester City were matched in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Seagulls looked to have held out heading for extra time, but Iheanacho’s late minute header saw Brighton crash out of the cup.
After a defeat to the Foxes, the South Coast club were held to a stalemate draw versus Aston Villa, being unable to find a way past the in-form Emiliano Martinez. One of Brighton’s biggest issues this season has been finishing their chances, they have no problem in accumulating them but the issue is the conversion of chances.
In the A23 derby, they lost bitterly to their local rivals, Crystal Palace, as they saw Christian Benteke’s late volley ripple the back of the net to win the game 1-2. It was a disappointing result for the Seagulls after once again being unable to produce in the final third.
In Brighton’s latest Premier League outing, they were defeated at the Hawthorns incredibly narrowly to West Bromwich Albion. They were ruled out the lead after a controversial VAR decision only before two missed penalties, with both striking the woodwork to Brighton’s frustration.
Leicester City (D-W-L-L-D)
After looking likely to secure a place in the top four for the first time since 2016, Leicester have been hit by injury troubles and have struggled in recent games as the Foxes look to regain form.
In the first leg of their UEFA Europa League in the round of 32, Leicester were held to a goalless draw against Slavia Prague with the visitors unable to convert their first half chances. After failing to relieve the pressure of the second leg, Leicester’s attention reverted to the Premier League as they were two, one winners over Midlands rivals, Aston Villa. First half goals from James Maddison and Harvey Barnes led Leicester to victory.
With just a week following their goalless draw against Slavia Prague, the Foxes were stunned by the Czech Republic side as they were excluded from Europe. Leicester never found a lifeline back into the game after Lukas Provod arrived at the back post to give the visitors the lead. To make matters worse, Leicester then went a second goal down as there Europa League dreams crashed down in front of their own eyes.
The Foxes looked to kick back against Arsenal on the following Sunday, but after another disappointing performance, the Gunners headed back to North-London with all three points. After a unsatisfactory performance at the weekend Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers' side picked up just a point in midweek against Burnley after Iheanacho cancelled out Matej Vydra’s early goal.
Neither side will be confident heading into the game with disappointing form as of recent. Leicester are certainly capable of beating the Seagulls, having shown that in the two previous occasions this season.
Brighton will be in search for their first win since the 3rd of February. Leicester won’t make it easy for them but despite their injuries and the Foxes will want all three points.
0-1 Leicester.