While one Premier League side will want to end their unfortunate string of three consecutive losses, another would strive for safety when Fulham hosts Leicester City at Craven Cottage this Monday.
After coming up short narrowly against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool, Fulham still retains their top-half status- standing 10th in the points table with 45 points in their bag. Marco Silva's side has established a three-point buffer to Chelsea at 11th.
A controversial penalty kick stopped the Cottagers from sharing points at Anfield when Mo Salah turned the match in Liverpool's favor. Despite missing out on their slim chances for making it to the European places, Marco Silva can be incredibly proud of his team, who are amidst an unlucky rough patch but aren't showing any signs of slowing down.
Fulham has struggled without their top marksman Aleksandar Mitrović for his suspension. With their limited creation of big chances per 90 minutes, it's astonishing how much the side remains dependent on accurate crosses per game.
James Maddison's penalty was an impacting let-off for the Foxes when they casually dropped two points against Everton. Dean Smith, though frustrated, would have taken some positives out of his side's display, especially seeing how Jamie Vardy fared in comparison with his limited opportunities this campaign.
Leicester City stands 16th on the brink of the danger zone at the mercy of others in this exciting Premier League relegation dogfight. With 30 points tied between positions 16th till 18th, the East Midlanders must work hard in their last four fixtures. Losses have got restricted under Smith, which alongside their respectable goal difference, can help them during the climax.
The Foxes demand a good result against Fulham before facing two strong ties against Liverpool and Newcastle to end the season against an almost safe West Ham. Leicester has won one out of their last five, with two draws and losses following their track record.
Fulham will miss Andreas Pereira (ankle) and Tim Ream (elbow) till the end of this season due to their long-term ailments. Defender Layvin Kurzawa suffers from a knee injury, with Mitrović adhering to the final game of his eight-match suspension.
The visitors will add some depth to their squad with Jonny Evans and Ricardo Pereira declared fit for their returns. Absences continue for Ryan Bertrand (fitness) and Jannik Vestergaard (calf), while James Justin (calf) and Kelechi Iheanacho (groin) also missing out on the action.
Expert Insight: Amidst their troubles, Leicester City still manages to find the back of the net regularly against their opposition. Fulham has carved out a unique niche of securing results in tightly contested scorelines. Both sides are matched evenly in terms of offense and defense. The visitors will fancy their chances of snatching at least a point from this visit as the Cottagers remain without their prime frontrunner.
Premier League