HomeFeatured ArticlesQPR vs Leicester Preview | Team News, Key Men and Stats

QPR vs Leicester Preview | Team News, Key Men and Stats

QPR and Leicester, two of the promoted teams, clash this weekend in attempt to get their flattering campaigns on the right track. Both are early season relegation candidates and are stuck in 20th and 18th respectively. After suffering to get to grips with life in the top flight, a win would be vital for either team going into a busy December. These are the results that could prove crucial at the end of the season and both teams will want to make this opportunity count.

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Harry Redknapp’s side go into the match at the bottom after only one win in their last nine games. They have however played Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Southampton within those matches and look forward to Leicester on the weekend as well as potential relegation rivals Burnley and West Brom at home in the coming weeks. QPR are however unbeaten in their last two at home with a win against Aston Villa and a draw with Man City along the way so the aim will be to continue the good form at home and make it a fortress for their campaign.

Leicester’s highlight of the season has definitely been the 5-3 win against Man United two months ago but have not won a Premier League game since. Their last seven matches has yielded five defeats and two draws and now sit in 18th place in the league. The Foxes did break a run of four defeats in a row last weekend with a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland but will hope to go one better against QPR this weekend.

Team News

QPR

Influential central midfielder Sandro has been ruled out until the New Year with a knee injury. The summer signing from Spurs suffered the knock in the defeat against Newcastle and will miss the busy festive period which will be a blow to QPR. Faurlin and Taarabt are also missing.

Leicester

Dean Hammond (calf) and Matthew Upson (ankle) are the only players missing from the Leicester squad this weekend. Nigel Pearson could tinker with his team with goals having been scarce in the last few games. Riyad Mahrez may come into the side onto the right to provide more pace and width.

Possible Line-Ups

QPR: Green – Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Yun – Vargas, Fer, Henry, Kranjcar – Austin, Zamora.

Leicester: Schmeichel – de Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky – Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp – Vardy, Ulloa.

Interesting Facts

  • Leicester City have won three and lost just two of their last six league visits to Loftus Road.
  • Leonardo Ulloa scored five goals in his first five Premier League appearances, but has failed to score in the seven games since in the competition for the Foxes.
  • No Premier League team has picked up fewer points over their past six games as Leicester (two, level with Villa).
  • Leicester have won only one of their last 25 Premier League games against London sides (L15 D9).
  • Richard Dunne has three bookings and an own goal in his last five Premier League appearances for QPR.
  • Charlie Austin has scored four goals in QPR’s five Premier League games at Loftus Road this season.
  • QPR and Leicester are two of the three (alongside Newcastle) Premier League sides not to score in the opening 15 minutes of games this season.

Recent Head to Heads

2013/2014     Sat 19 Apr     Leicester        1 – 0    Q.P.R.            Championship

2013/2014     Sat 21 Dec    Q.P.R.            0 – 1    Leicester        Championship

2010/2011     Sat 05 Mar     Q.P.R.            1 – 0    Leicester        Championship

2010/2011     Sat 18 Sep    Leicester        0 – 2    Q.P.R.            Championship

2009/2010     Mon 05 Apr   Leicester        4 – 0    Q.P.R.            Championship

2009/2010     Fri 30 Oct       Q.P.R.            1 – 2    Leicester        Championship

Key Players

QPR: Eduardo Vargas

Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas was thought to be a real coup of a signing when it was first announced that he would be joining QPR on loan, especially after his performances for Chile at the World Cup where he showed that he can be a crafty little player who causes defenders many problems. He has hwoever only managed one goal and has yet to establish himself as a first team player but has proven to be an impact player as a substitute.

Leicester: Riyad Mahrez

Young Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has shown glimpses of how much of a handful he can be to defenders so far this season with his exciting play and ability on the ball. He has scored one goal so far this season so goal scoring is probably the area that he would most like to improve in but it could mainly be down to the goalkeepers that he comes up against as 64% of his 11 shots have been accurate.

Prediction

QPR have put in some good performances at home with the crowd rallying behind them and another one could be on the cards against their fellow promoted outfit.

My Prediction – QPR 2-0 Leicester City  

Betting Preview

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