Fulham v Leicester predictions: Fragile defences should guarantee goals

– Both teams have scored in eight of Leicester’s last nine league games 
– Leicester are without a clean sheet in 19 league matches 
– Recommended bet: Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals

Having failed to beat either of their relegation rivals in Leeds and Everton, the pressure has been ramped up on Leicester to pick up a positive result at Fulham.

Leicester are ‘too good to go down’ has been the consensus of football supporters all across England for much of the season, but the Foxes’ position is now a precarious one.

Dean Smith’s side are out of the relegation places on only goal difference alone after recent score draws with Leeds and Everton and upcoming fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham mean losing at Craven Cottage is not an option.

Leicester may be encouraged by the fact that Fulham have suffered three straight defeats but the tenth-placed Cottagers will be determined to finish the season in the top half.

The visitors have great attacking quality but are let down by their defensive deficiencies, something that should contribute to an entertaining affair in the capital.

Team news

Fulham remain without suspended top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was handed an eight-game ban in March, while defender Layvin Kurzawa is still out injured.

Commanding centre-back Tim Ream has joined influential midfielder Andreas Pereira in being ruled out for the rest of the season.

Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho missed the recent 2-2 draw with Everton and is unlikely to return for the trip to Craven Cottage, joining James Justin, Ryan Bertrand, Ricardo Pereira and Jannik Vestergaard on the sidelines.

The stats

Both teams have scored in eight of Leicester’s last nine Premier League games and given the visitors’ defensive troubles a repeat scenario looks likely.

The Foxes are without a clean sheet in 19 Premier League games and they have conceded 59 goals in 34 matches, which is a defensive record worsened by only four teams in the top flight.

Fulham have also had their defensive concerns, with Marco Silva’s side conceding in each of their last ten matches and suffering three straight defeats.

But to capitalise Leicester must also put a miserable road record behind them. Smith’s men have won only one of their last nine away league games.

Having been plagued by injury troubles and poor form, Leicester hotshot Jamie Vardy is back among the goals having netted in back-to-back games with Leicester and Everton.

Prediction

Given Leicester’s current state of affairs and the three fixtures that follow, this trip to Craven Cottage looks like a game the Foxes can ill-afford to lose.

Smith’s men are still going to need to put some points on the board to retain their Premier League status and that could lead to a gung-go game in London.

Leicester are used to being embroiled in lively contests, having seen both teams score in eight of their last league nine games, and will be eyeing victory against a Fulham side that may be wavering after three straight defeats.

But defensively the visitors are flawed and both teams to score has also been a winning bet in five of the Cottagers’ last eight league assignments, so expect plenty of entertainment at the capital.

Back both teams to score & over 2.5 goals at 19/20 with LiveScore Bet.

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