*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
The weekend’s Premier League action gets underway at the King Power Stadium on Saturday as Leicester host strugglers Leeds in the lunch-time kick-off.
The fixture marks the beginning of the Jesse Marsch era at Leeds, with anything other than a win leaving the Yorkshire side in danger of falling into the bottom three by the end of the weekend.
Leicester, meanwhile, recorded their first Premier League win of 2022 against an improved Burnley side at Turf Moor on Tuesday night and will be looking to build on that with another three points here.
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 27/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS
Saturday 12:30pm: Leicester City v Leeds United
TV: BT Sport 1
Leicester (-1)
Marsch has a huge job on his hands, taking over a side that had taken just one point from their last available 18, conceding 21 goals in the process. Leeds had clearly lost their way under Marcelo Bielsa and desperately needed fresh ideas for the run-in, but it is doubtful whether the American can have had any tangible impact in less than a week at Elland Road.
The Foxes, on the other hand, had been the only Premier League team yet to register a win in the first two months of the year, making Brendan Rodgers favourite to follow in Bielsa’s footsteps. However, that impressive 2-0 victory will have given Leicester confidence going into a winnable game with Leeds.
They should make it two wins on the bounce, and they should do so relatively comfortably.
Both teams to score
Leeds may have failed to score in each of their last two games and Leicester may have kept a clean sheet last time out, but all signs point to both teams finding the back of the net on Saturday afternoon. Leicester’s clean sheet at Burnley was their first in 2022 after failing to hold their opponents goalless in the first nine games of the year.
They have conceded 43 goals in 24 games this season, the fifth-worst record in the division, and face a Leeds side with a modestly respectable goalscoring record of 29 goals in 26 games. Meanwhile, Leeds boast the worst defensive record in the division, conceding a staggering 60 goals in 26 games an 21 in their last six.
They have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 games and Marsch has his work cut out if he is to transform the Leeds defence into a unit capable of keeping them in the Premier League. He may not have had the time to do so ahead of this game on Saturday and Leeds could easily maintain their six-game average of conceding three goals per game. They might just score one at the other end too.
- NOT SURE WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT? CLICK HERE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT A BET BUILDER IS
- LIKE PADDY POWER NEWS? OR MAYBE YOU JUST LIKE TO WHINGE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN OUR READER SURVEY
Leeds to have five or more shots on target
It is little wonder that both Leeds and Leicester are struggling defensively this season. Both rank in the Premier League’s bottom three for the most shots on target faced per game this season.
No side have faced more shots on target than Leeds this season, who have averaged a staggering 6.23 per game since the start of the season, while only Leeds and Norwich have faced more shots on target per game than Leicester, who have faced an average of 5.25 shots on target per game.
Leeds also rank ninth for most shots on target in the Premier League, with an average of 4.17 per game. There is a good chance that they will better that average against a porous Leicester defence on Saturday.
James Maddison to score anytime
James Maddison’s brilliant left-footed effort gave Leicester a vital late lead against Burnley on Tuesday, and he can provide further inspiration against Leeds at the weekend. The English midfielder impressed during a 17-minute cameo at Turf Moor on Tuesday and has surely done enough to nail down a starting place on Saturday afternoon.
Maddison scored twice in his previous outing against Randers in the Conference League last week and seems to be coming into goalscoring form after going six games without a goal during January and February. Maddison is Leicester’s top scorer in all competitions alongside Jamie Vardy and has scored an impressive seven league goals from 18 starts from midfield.
He can flourish against a defensively poor Leeds outfit.
Leicester v Leeds bet builder tips:
Handicap: Leicester (-1)
Both teams to score
Leeds to have five or more shots on target
James Maddison to score anytime
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 27/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
FREE BET IF 1 LEG LETS YOU DOWN
If one leg of your 4+ fold Bet Builder fails to land, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Bet Builder Free Bet If 1 Leg Lets You Down per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
SATURDAY FOOTBALL TIPS
- 9/1 pick among Phil Thompson’s Leicester v Leeds tips
- PHIL THOMPSON’S TURBO TREBLE: Thommo’s 11/1 Premier League tips for the 3pm kick-offs
- 11/1 selection among Thommo’s Newcastle v Brighton tips
- Liverpool v West Ham Bet Builder tips: Our 4 selections combine at 23/1
- Phil Thompson’s 3 Liverpool v West Ham tips
- TRADER TIPS: Emmet O’Keeffe reveals his Premier League betting tips
- Football Accumalator Tips Today: Our Saturday night four-fold comes to 36/1
SUNDAY FOOTBALL TIPS
- 6/1 shout tops Phil Thompson’s Arsenal v Watford tips
- TRADER TIPS: Our top number-cruncher picks his Manchester Derby betting tips
- Phil Thompson’s 4 Man City v Man Utd tips