Leicester vs Brighton Prediction

As part of our weekend Premier League predictions, we analyse Brighton’s visit to the King Power Stadium. With the two teams in contrasting form, will Brighton hand Leicester a fifth consecutive defeat? Find out with Beat the Bookmaker’s Leicester vs Brighton prediction.

Leicester vs Brighton Prediction Match Overview

Leicester come into this match in terrible league form. They had been turning their fortunes around before the World Cup break. However, since the league resumed on Boxing Day, Leicester have lost all four games and scored only one goal (ironically at Anfield). This return is abysmal. They have conceded eight in this run, and Brennan Johnson’s brace for Nottingham Forest has mounted pressure on coach Brendan Rodgers. Only fellow strugglers Bournemouth have also lost the previous four games. Leicester last won in the league on 12 November away at West Ham. Indeed, their home form is also worrying, having won only two games at the King Power all season. The Midlands club are in a precarious position in 14th place with 17 points, as only two points separate the bottom seven as the table condenses.

Alternatively, Brighton are doing very well and have won five of their last seven league games. New coach Roberto De Zerbi has worked wonders since replacing Graham Potter, and he has the Seagulls playing a fast, direct, and exciting brand of football. The recent run has included hammerings of Chelsea and Liverpool at the Amex Stadium. Winger Solly March has been impressive, registering four goals and three assists in his last five games in all competitions. Brighton are undoubtedly looking good, sitting in 7th place with 30 points, and they will hope to push for a Europa League place. To do that, they must win against struggling teams like this opposition. Having accumulated 16 points from 27 away this season (fifth in the away form table), they will fancy their chances of beating Leicester.

Leicester vs Brighton Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Leicester:

Might Not Play: Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison, Perez

Will Not Play: Bertrand, Evans, Pereira, Justin, Soumare

Brighton:

Might Not Play: Trossard

Will Not Play: Moder

Possible Lineups

Leicester (4-3-3): Ward; Thomas, Faes, Amartey, Castagne; Ndidi, Mendy, Tielemans; Barnes, Vardy, Albrighton

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Estupinan, Dunk, Colwill, Gross; Caicedo, Mac Allister; Mitoma, Lallana, March; Ferguson

Leicester vs Brighton Prediction Analysis

Leicester’s Issues in Conceding Goals

This season, Leicester have been plagued by defensive issues. The more cynical amongst us might say this is a feature of Brendan Rodgers’s managerial career. Indeed, his Liverpool and Celtic sides were known more for their free-flowing attacking football than their defensive rigidity. Leicester are especially vulnerable from set pieces. The visitors this weekend have been scoring goals aplenty this season, so Leicester’s defensive frailties do not bode well. The drop in the form of Caglar Soyuncu has hurt them too. Where he was a mainstay of the team in his early Leicester career, he is now a bench option as Wout Faes and Daniel Amartey are at the heart of the defence. Amartey is a central midfielder by trade, and his partnership with Faes has never truly convinced us.

The transfer to Nice of long-term goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been a considerable blow too. His replacement Danny Ward is considered a modest goalkeeper, and the transfer of Daniel Iversen has yet to work out. Injuries to the likes of James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, and Jonny Evans have compounded matters. Hence, Leicester have experienced much instability in defensive areas this season, conceding 33 goals in 19 games. This statistic averages 1.74 per game, which is nowhere near good enough. Leicester must be less leaky at the back if they are to climb the table.

Brighton’s Free-Scoring System

Brighton, on the other hand, are playing brilliantly, as stated. Their attack is purring nicely, and they have scored a hugely impressive 35 goals in the league this season, an average of almost two per game. They have conceded 25 too, so Leicester will have some hope of scoring, but they will know it will be tough to keep Brighton out. De Zerbi has continued and amplified much of what Graham Potter was doing. Brighton still play fast football and are equally adept at keeping the ball and building play or playing on the counter-attack with rapid transitions, as the situation demands. Shifting Gross from higher up the pitch to right-back has been a masterful move. He is now attacking well and creating in the build-up through crosses and his natural energy and stamina. There is another threat from the back, as Estupinan at left-back is another flying full-back.

In midfield, Mac Allister, Caicedo, and the experienced Lallana, are talented, industrious players who can get forward and provide incisive passes. The trickery, pace, and dribbling of Mitoma and the in-form March also give opposition defences much to think about and keeps them pinned back often. There is no question that Brighton are a hugely entertaining team to watch, with many quality players (and backups). The fact that they barely miss the unsettled Trossard proves that De Zerbi prizes the system above any individual. Indeed, his structure maximises the potential of already gifted players.

Midfield, Where One Team Could Win the Game

Both these teams like to pass the ball. Indeed, despite their struggles, Leicester are in fourth place on the passing table, with 9,680. Brighton are in sixth with 9,390. It seems Leicester’s passing and possession has been more sterile, whereas Brighton pass with more intent and purpose. Suppose Leicester try to maintain control of the ball in this game. In that case, it might play into Brighton’s hands, given the abundance of pace in the away team and their ability in transition. The beautiful thing about Brighton, though (as stated), is that they can also dominate the ball themselves. They had 62 per cent possession in the victory against Liverpool, whereas Leicester had 61 per cent in the defeat to Forest.

Therefore, we anticipate a fierce midfield battle, as many technical players are on display – for example, Ndidi, Tielemans, Mac Allister, Caicedo, and Lallana. As a game-changer, Maddison might also return from injury to play some part. He connects the Leicester midfield and attack well through his playmaking abilities. It is difficult to say how this will go. However, there may well be a relatively even share of possession, and it will be difficult for Leicester to repel Brighton’s numerous threats. Estupinan, Mitoma, Caicedo, Mac Allister, and March, in particular, are dangerous and very talented players.

Beat the Bookmaker Leicester vs Brighton Prediction

This game could be a close encounter if Leicester were in the form they were just before the World Cup. We do not wish to underestimate Leicester. When they play close to their capabilities, they are a top-half-level side capable of giving anyone a game. However, they are in desperate form and coming up against a team flying high and playing in a perfect system reliant on muscle memory. Brighton have threats all over the pitch. Indeed, they have already beaten Leicester 5-2 this season in the first league fixture between the two. Brighton will be full of confidence going into this game, and we see them scoring goals against a struggling Leicester side. Their system maximises the talents of already gifted players, and they will likely be too good for their hosts.

Leicester 1-3 Brighton

Beat the Bookmaker Leicester vs Brighton Prediction – Brighton Odds: