Leicester City will play their final Premier League fixture of the season at home after securing their top flight status where they will entertain an already relegated side in Queen’s Park Rangers. In a game where pretty much nothing is riding on, especially for the visitors, who will be looking to end their disappointing campaign on a winning note. For Nigel Pearson and Leicester, they’ve achieved the great escape as they say, will now have an opportunity to finish the season with more than 40 points provided they win on Sunday – an incredible and unimaginable feat considering all those 140 odd days at the bottom of the table.
After another calamitous season that will see them head right back to the Championship, Queen’s Park Rangers also enter into a period of turbulence and financial scrutiny that should be worrying their hierarchy as much as the supporters. Having already relegated, they can only avoid finishing rock-bottom with a victory over Leicester on Sunday, provided Burnley drop points in their final Premier League encounter. They will make the trip to the King Power on the back of a narrow home win against Newcastle and an away form that is hardly inspiring – with just 1 win in their last 6 games away from Loftus Road.
Team News
Nigel Pearson has no new injury concerns ahead of his final league game of the season with Matty James (ACL) and David Nugent (Shin) the only two absentees.
Queen’s Park Rangers are ravaged by injuries with up to eight players either out of contention or doubtful to be available for selection ahead of Sunday. Rob Green (Concussion), Bobby Zamora (Hip), Isla and Zarate (Knee) are all expected to return on the 24th of May while Vargas, Traore are unavailable for selection.
Interesting Numbers
QPR have never lost to Leicester City in the Premier League, winning two and drawing one.
Leicester have kept five clean sheets in their last six PL games.
Matt Phillips has provided more assists in 2015 than any other PL player (8).
Jamie Vardy has eight assists from open play this season, level with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
Key Men
Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City
Mahrez has been excellent and quite instrumental in Leicester City’s late upturn of form that has secured them Premier League football for next season. The 24-year old has scored 4 goals in 29 appearances, 4 very good goals to be fair and also the quick midfielder has managed to create a remarkable 42 chances that includes 3 assists. Alongside Jamie Vardy who’s earned a deserved England call recently, Mahrez has been one of the main names spearheading Leicester’s attack which has come to the fore in recent weeks and has seen them scoring 14 goals in the last 8 games getting them through the finish in 6 of those, culminating into a mighty escape from the drop. He could prove really influential in this final game where a win would see them hit the 40-point mark which was literally unthinkable until March.
Leroy Fer – QPR
The Dutch midfielder has had a very good season at Rangers it has to be said with the dynamic 25-year old scoring 6 goals and creating 2 other, in 26 appearances despite missing up to 8 games due to injury problems out of which his side ended up losing 6 times – shows how important Fer has been to QPR. He’s managed to create 43 chances as well and also maintained a respectable 80% pass accuracy. But his presence and physicality is what is truly an asset to QPR, or any side for that matter playing in the Premier League, which has enabled him complete a staggering 74% of take-ons (58/78) and also maintain a very good success rate in aerial duels (60%). His presence in the midfield could be really key in this final game for QPR in their mission to end their dismal season on a high.
Prediction
I see a high scoring, entertaining draw as the pressure is off of both sides.
Leicester City 2-2 Queen’s Park Rangers
