Leicester City v Watford preview: Foxes look to continue fine form

Leicester host Watford in the Premier League on Saturday looking to maintain their place in the top four.

The Foxes are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games, and are flying high in third place with 22 points from their 11 games.

Watford will have to stop Jamie Vardy, who is hoping to score for a ninth straight Premier League game, and the striker is just two matches away from equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy's all-time record.

The Hornets have won their last two games by a 2-0 scoreline; at home to West Ham and away at Stoke, and sit 11th with 16 points.

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Team news

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has both Vardy and left-back Christian Fuchs available, but Matty James is still missing with a knee injury, with the midfielder expected to be back by the new year.

The visitors are sweating on the fitness of striker Odion Ighalo and midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado for the trip to the King Power Stadium, while Sweden international Joel Ekstrand remains sidelined with the knee injury he sustained against Ipswich last season.

Opta stats

Leicester have lost just two of their last 12 Premier League home matches (W8 D2 L2) and those defeats came against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Watford have lost just one of their last six Premier League away games (W3 D2 L1).

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Watford have won just one of their last eight away trips against Leicester, including play-off games (D2 L5).

The Foxes have picked up 10 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.

Nine of the 10 goals Watford have conceded in the Premier League this season have come in the second half.

Merson's prediction

I've got to back Leicester here. Vardy is on fire, as is Riyad Mahrez. They are both performing so well. There will certainly be goals in this and I think Leicester will just edge it. Watford will have a go and I see them taking the lead at the King Power before Leicester come back to win. They always go a goal behind and can't play until they're trailing!

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2 (Sky Bet odds 25/1)

Betting

Leicester are marginally odds-on at 5/6 to rack up another win, with Watford 3/1 to maintain their own fine form, while the draw is priced at 11/4.

The Foxes were cut to 4/1 for a top-six finish after making it 10 points from their last four games with another comeback win at West Brom and are odds-against to come from behind and win again.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are out to 10/1 to face relegation after recording back-to-back 2-0 victories, a scoreline they're 22/1 to replicate at the King Power Stadium.