Leicester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Leicester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Leicester begin one of their most important periods in their recent history this weekend, with three massive games against teams around them in the table.

With a two-point gap between themselves and safety, Dean Smith has a massive job on his hands to reverse the damage that has been done this season, with the squad looking thoroughly lacking in every area.

While there remains quality players at Leicester, confidence and belief disappeared some time ago. With only seven games remaining, they need to start picking up points quickly.

Wolves, under Julen Lopetegui, now appear to be safe this season, at least based on their recent performances. 

They too have a tough run of fixtures coming up, so it’s vitally important that they don’t take their foot off the gas just yet.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Leicester City Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     First home game under Dean Smith

     Clean sheets in each of their last five against Wolves

Reasons to be fearful:

     Although they haven’t kept a clean sheet since the World Cup

     Haven’t scored more than once in any of their last 10

Dean Smith has been handed one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League this season – to come into a team in 19th place, with just over a month remaining, and save them from relegation.

Smith has shown himself to be a talented manager, albeit with most of his success coming in the Championship, but this will test all of his powers of motivation and coaching.

His first game was against Manchester City, which was essentially a free pass. Now, he has games against Wolves, Leeds, Everton and Fulham – realistically he needs at least two wins from those four.

After that, harder games against Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham complete their season. 

They need to start defending better, which starts with Smith’s high-pressing tactics that we saw last week. A first clean sheet since the World Cup would be a good start.

Star Man – James Maddison

Maddison’s individual form has dropped off over the past couple of months, although Smith will be hoping that a fresh approach can spark the key midfielder into life.

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Three wins and a draw from their last six

     Ruben Neves ready to play after fitness concerns

Reasons to be fearful

     Poor record against Leicester

     Would still worry about their consistency levels

Of the teams that have changed their manager this season, Wolves have made a sound decision in appointing Julen Lopetegui at the time they did.

He has a 40% win rate from his 20 games so far, a perfectly respectable record for someone coming into the Premier League for the first time and taking over a team inside the bottom three.

In the summer, Lopetegui and his superiors will have a huge job at overhauling his squad, especially at the top end of the pitch, although they are no longer the league’s lowest scorers.

While they are not mathematically safe, another win or two from their final seven games should be enough for survival.

In true Wolves style, they haven’t scored in any of their previous five visits to Leicester, but they are in a better vein of form right now.

Star Man – Hwang Hee-chan

Hwang scored the second goal in Wolves’ win over Brentford last weekend and has been a solid performer under Lopetegui.