Tottenham vs Leicester LIVE! Match cancelled - pre-season friendly stream, latest updates and reaction

Tottenham vs Leicester has been cancelled.

Spurs headed to Thailand today to continue their pre-season preparations with a clash against former Premier League opponents at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. But heavy rainfall saw the match delayed by 40 minutes before eventually being called off. Tottenham’s wait for their first win of the Ange Postecoglou era therefore goes on, having lost a five-goal thriller to fierce rivals West Ham in the Australian’s opening match in charge on Tuesday.

Leicester are also embarking upon a new start under Enzo Maresca after last season’s relegation to the Championship, continuing their summer campaign with a narrow win over depleted Northampton. They were set to face a swift reunion with James Maddison with a side containing ex-Spurs midfielder Harry Winks, before the postponement.

There was very heavy rainfall at the open-air Rajamangala National Stadium in the hours leading up to the match, and the conditions never improved. A succession of pitch inspections took place, including from Postecoglou and Spurs’ own groundsmen. But eventually it was deemed there were just too many puddles around the pitch, and the match was called off. The players from both sides did a lap of honour to thank the fans for their support before departing.

Tottenham vs Leicester updates

• Match cancelled after heavy rain

• Postecoglou issues message to Spurs fans

Postecoglou thanks travelling Tottenham fans

13:51 , Dom Smith

Postecoglou has thanked those who made the trip out to Bangkok, only for the fixture against Leicester to be cancelled.

“To everyone involved and particularly to our supporters — the ones here in Thailand, the ones who have travelled — we’re really disappointed with not being able to play the game tonight”, he admitted.

“The players, myself, were all really looking forward to it. We’ve had a great welcome here. I know a lot of you have travelled far and wide to see the boys in action, but unfortunately the weather Gods weren’t on our side.”

He added: “Hopefully when we come back through here one day, we can actually go out there and perform.

“I really appreciate all your support, it’s been an outstanding welcome for us here, the players and I feel the love, and hopefully in the future we have a better outcome.”

Thanking the fans

12:23 , Dom Smith

Tottenham players thank the crowd for coming out in numbers, after the match is cancelled.

Leicester statement

12:07 , George Flood

Leicester City Football Club regrets to confirm the cancellation of this afternoon’s pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

The game was scheduled to take place at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday July 23, however heavy rains in the hours leading up to the scheduled kick-off have left the pitch unplayable, as assessed by the match referee and event organisers.

Taking into account the safety of the players and the overall integrity of the game, the unavoidable decision to cancel the fixture was taken after extensive consideration to those who were in attendance by the event organisers on the recommendation of the match referee.

Leicester City would like to extend its thanks to all supporters who have followed the Club in Bangkok, and regrets that the game was deemed unsafe to go ahead in circumstances that were beyond the Club’s control.

Leicester City Football Club regrets to confirm the cancellation of this afternoon’s pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

Big shame for fans

11:57 , Dom Smith

Very disappointing for the fans who travelled all the way out to Bangkok to support Spurs and Leicester in this pre-season friendly.

But the rain was frankly biblical, and it was the right decision given the safety of the players to cancel the match.

No need to pick up needless injuries ahead of what will no doubt be a long season, and one of big change for both of these clubs.

MATCH CANCELLED

11:44 , Dom Smith

Tottenham have confirmed through their media channels that the match has been postponed.

Their statement reads: “Tonight’s friendly against Leicester City has been cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch and adverse weather conditions.

“The event organisers, based on a recommendation from the match officials, deemed the pitch at the Rajamangala National Stadium unplayable and unsafe following heavy rainfall in Bangkok.”

Hmm...

11:37 , Dom Smith

That final pitch inspection is taking quite a while to garner a decision....

Final pitch inspection taking place

11:29 , George Flood

There is a last pitch inspection taking place. There is a particularly large puddle by one of the boxes. It’s also started to rain more heavily.

We’ll bring you the definitive decision whenever it arrives!

Pitch-clearing

11:18 , Dom Smith

Looks like those who were clearing rain off the pitch have done a decent job, increasing the liklihood that this match might go ahead after all. But still we await a clear indication either way.

Another inspection

11:05 , Dom Smith

Another inspection on the pitch. Spurs groundsmen among the group all assessing whether the pitch is playable.

Delayed, naturally

10:59 , George Flood

Still no indication whether this rain-swept match will take place. It’s due to kick-off in two minutes, but whether it takes place in the end or not, it certainly won’t be starting in 120 seconds...

Wiping the rain away?!

10:47 , Dom Smith

There are groundsmen trying to wipe the rain off the edges of the pitch now.

A minute ago, Ange Postecoglou was the only person on the pitch — walking sheepishly across it, to determine his own verdict of how sodden it is.

Spoiler: it is completely sodden...

Hold on a second...

10:44 , Dom Smith

The rain has continued POURING in Bangkok and there are puddles all over the pitch. It looks like the ref and officials are on the pitch, inspecting whether the pitch is playable.

I sense we may have a decision in the next few minutes.

Match minutes and cringe moments

10:40 , Dom Smith

Speaking yesterday ahead of this game, Postecoglou was asked what he wanted to see.

“Progression in all areas”, he said. “Hopefully the boys have got an idea of what we’re trying to do, to play our football. We need some match minutes in the players.”

There was a bizarre moment in the press conference when a German journalist held up a Bayern Munich shirt with Harry Kane’s name on the back, amid rumours he may move to the German club. Postecoglou was bemused by the stunt, and sarcastically asked the journalist if he’d got the laugh he wanted! It was all very cringey indeed.

Weather update

10:23 , Dom Smith

We’re not going to go as weather-obsessive as cricket or tennis fans, but it is absolutely TIPPING it down with rain at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok right now.

No suggestion the game will be delayed or called off. This is quite normal this time of year in Thailand. But it is raining VERY hard right now.

Leicester team news

10:19 , Dom Smith

The Leicester team is out too, and it’s an experimental lineup with a few familiar names.

Leicester XI: Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Doyle, Castagne; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, McAteer, Praet, Marcal-Madivadua; Iheanacho

Subs: Stolarczyk, Justin, Souttar, Vestergaard, Nelson, Kristiansen, Thomas, Soumare, Choudhury, Ndidi, Albrighton, Daka

Tottenham team news

10:07 , Dom Smith

The Spurs team is OUT!

It looks like a 4-2-3-1, with Maddison, Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane all starting in a star-studded front four.

Spurs XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Son, Maddison, Kulusevski; Kane.

Subs: Whiteman, Royal, Reguilon, Dier, Tanganga, Skipp, Lo Celso, Sarr, Perisic, Solomon, Richarlison

Last season recap

09:49 , Dom Smith

There were contrasting fortunes for Spurs in their two league encounters with Leicester last season.

In September, amid talk of Son Heung-min’s poor start to the season, Antonio Conte finally dropped the South Korea forward and it worked wonders. He came off the bench to score a fantastic hat-trick in a 6-2 win in which Maddison scored for Leicester.

Then, in February, Maddison scored and assisted as Leicester thrashed Spurs 4-1. By this time, Cristian Stellini was in caretaker charge of Tottenham, but they could only find the net once through Rodrigo Bentancur.

Last time out

09:33 , Dom Smith

Tottenham made a losing start to life under Ange Postecoglou, and indeed to pre-season, as they lost 3-2 to West Ham in Perth, Australia.

Gianluca Scamacca scored the winner for West Ham, with Giovani Lo Celso and Destiny Udogie finding the net for Spurs.

You can read our report from last week’s match here!

All change at Leicester City

09:20 , Dom Smith

Leicester endured a miserable time of it last season, winning only nine Premier League games, amassing just 34 points, scoring only 51 goals and conceding 68.

But their silver-lining was having James Maddison and Harvey Barnes to call on in their time of need.

Yet relegation so often means selling your best players, and that’s certainly true for Leicester, who could come up against Maddison today — following his £40million move to Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Harvey Barnes will not feature today as he closes in on a £38m move to Newcastle. It’s all change for the Foxes, and they will inevitably be weaker for it.

Tottenham vs Leicester prediction

08:50 , George Flood

The early signs are that Ange Postecoglou is very much going to deliver on his promise to make Tottenham more exciting to watch. That will likely mean goals at both ends, particularly while Spurs adapt to a new style of play.

They showed enough in that match against West Ham to suggest they will cause plenty of threat in attack, and this time Spurs should get the result to go with the performance.

Tottenham to win, 3-1.

Leicester team news

08:48 , George Flood

Speaking of quick reunions, Harry Winks should be in the Leicester side to face Tottenham today, having left Spurs in a £10m deal this summer.

Fellow new signing Conor Coady has undergone a scan on a foot injury, while Harvey Barnes is not involved for the relegated Foxes as he closes in on a £38m switch to Newcastle, having undergone a medical this week.

New Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, a former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is still deciding on his best lineup for what he hopes will be a successful Championship promotion push next term, so expect plenty of chopping and changing again today.

Tottenham team news

08:41 , George Flood

Tottenham should welcome back Heung-min Son for today’s game in Thailand.

The South Korean missed the first outing of the Ange Postecoglou era against West Ham earlier this week having only competed two training sessions in pre-season, but has been working since and is expected to feature this morning.

Tanguy Ndombele should also play a part after being sidelined in Perth with an ankle knock and James Maddison is set for a swift reunion with the club whom he left in a £40million transfer last month.

The likes of Eric Dier, Djed Spence and Joe Rodon should also feature, though Rodrigo Bentancur and Ryan Sessegnon both remain out.

Hugo Lloris of course was left at home as he seeks to secure a summer move away from Spurs.

How to watch Tottenham vs Leicester

08:35 , George Flood

TV channel and live stream: In the UK, live coverage of today’s match can be found on Tottenham’s video streaming service SPURSPLAY, which costs £45 for an annual subscription.

The price then drops to £35 for season-ticket holders and One Hotspur members.

It’s also available to members via Leicester’s service LCFC TV.

Welcome to Tottenham vs Leicester LIVE coverage!

08:32 , George Flood

Hello and welcome to the Evening Standard’s live coverage of Tottenham vs Leicester.

The former Premier League rivals are in the Thai capital of Bangkok this morning as their respective embryonic new eras continue with a second pre-season friendly encounter for both sides.

There were plenty of positive attacking signs for new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou in his native Australia earlier this week, though he will be demanding defensive improvements today after losing his first game in charge 3-2 to fierce rivals West Ham.

James Maddison, along with fellow new signings Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon, made his Tottenham debut in Perth and is now set for a quick reunion with his old club, who now boast former Spurs stalwart Harry Winks in their ranks.

Leicester are still reeling from an eminently avoidable relegation to the Championship last season and will be bidding for a swift return to the promised land under the stewardship of new manager Enzo Maresca, a Treble-winning coach with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Foxes made a winning start to the summer against Northampton, though can hardly take too much joy from narrowly squeezing past a third-tier side that struggled to field a full team.

Kick-off at the Rajamangala National Stadium is at 11am BST, so stay tuned for match build-up, team news and live updates with Standard Sport.