Leicester City next five fixtures compared to Everton, Wolves, Ipswich and Southampton
Leicester City begin the new year and the second half of the Premier League season in the lowest position they’ve occupied this campaign.
Having slipped into the relegation zone for the first time on Boxing Day, Ipswich’s win over Chelsea on Monday saw them fall a further place down the standings. Now they’ve got to hoist themselves out.
January gives City a chance to make strides in more ways than one. Ruud van Nistelrooy should get the opportunity to strengthen his squad in the transfer market, and the right moves could make a huge difference over the coming months.
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But there are points to be won on the pitch too. Here, we run through the January fixtures for each of the bottom six.
15th – Crystal Palace – 20 points
Fixtures: Chelsea (H), Stockport (H, FA Cup), Leicester (A), West Ham (A), Brentford (H)
One defeat in their last eight Premier League games has put Palace into a healthier position in the relegation battle. They will feel their January games allow them to pull further away.
Chelsea at home is a tough ask but then they take on struggling City and underwhelming West Ham. They finish the month at home to a Brentford side who are yet to win on the road.
16th – Everton – 17 points
Fixtures: Bournemouth (A), Peterborough (H, FA Cup), Aston Villa (H), Tottenham (H), Brighton (A)
Everton have only lost two of their last eight, but they’ve only won one too. They have the second-best defence in the division over that run, but the worst attack. In true Sean Dyche fashion, they’re grinding out games.
That may be their approach over January too. Their four Premier League fixtures see them take on a quartet of sides in that glut of clubs looking to challenge for Europe.
17th – Wolves – 16 points
Fixtures: Nottm Forest (H), Bristol City (A, FA Cup), Newcastle (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H)
Wolves may feel it’s a good job they’ve picked up points early under Vitor Pereira because this looks a tough run of games. Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal all sit in the top five and they’re all in great form bar Chelsea, who have slipped a little in the past few matches.
After seven points from nine, they’ll have confidence, but they’ll do well to stay unbeaten here. They won’t have Matheus Cunha to face Forest either.
18th – Ipswich – 15 points
Fixtures: Fulham (A), Bristol Rovers (H, FA Cup), Brighton (H), Man City (H), Liverpool (A)
In concerning news for City, Ipswich look like they are slowly beginning to find their feet back in the Premier League. That victory over Chelsea was not one they were expected to pull off.
And so they can’t be ruled out of getting results in what looks like a tough run of games. Fulham are going well, Brighton are stuttering but still possess quality, and Liverpool are flying. Man City, as Leicester discovered, are not as daunting an opponent as they usually are right now.
19th – Leicester City – 14 points
Fixtures: Aston Villa (A), QPR (H, FA Cup), Crystal Palace (H), Fulham (H), Tottenham (A)
There was promise in the performance against Man City, but results are now needed. Their next month of matches does not look too daunting, but neither does it look too appealing either.
Facing an Aston Villa side without Morgan Rogers, Jhon Duran and Pau Torres provides an opportunity, while points really need to be taken in home games against Palace and Fulham. Spurs are totally unpredictable and so City could pull off a surprise there too.
20th – Southampton – 6 points
Fixtures: Brentford (H), Swansea (H, FA Cup), Man United (A), Nottm Forest (A), Newcastle (H)
Facing a Brentford side who struggle away and a Man United outfit in disarray gives Ivan Juric a couple of decent opportunities for his first points as Saints boss. The matches after that look tough, with Forest and Newcastle both going well. Ten points adrift of safety already, the Saints need some hope to cling on to.
