Thursday Premier League Predictions: Back Leicester to claim three points

The midweek round of Premier League fixtures concludes with two crunch clashes on Thursday. Expert Greg Lea predicts what may happen at Craven Cottage and the King Power Stadium.

Fulham v Aston Villa

Kick-off: 7.30pm Thursday

After a strong start to the season, Fulham have struggled for form of late. A 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last time out made it three games without a victory and just one win in five for Marco Silva’s men.

The Cottagers are still in a decent position after ten rounds of fixtures, but their defensive record in recent weeks is cause for concern. They’ve conceded an average of 2.6 goals per game since the beginning of September, while keeping just one clean sheet all season. Silva will know that his team need to tighten up if they are to stay clear of the bottom three.

Aston Villa are also going through a sticky patch, meaning Steven Gerrard is the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job. Villa have not made much visible progress during the ex-Rangers boss’ 12 months in charge, and a club with European aspirations does not want to spend much more time flirting with the relegation zone.

Aleksander Mitrovic: Can score for Fulham on Thursday night

This is an important match for Villa too, then, and they will hope to take advantage of Fulham’s defensive struggles. But their own backline has been far from secure of late, and a fully-fit Aleksandar Mitrovic looks primed to take advantage after notching his seventh goal of the campaign against Bournemouth.

Prediction: Aleksandar Mitrovic to score anytime @ 2.26
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.9

Leicester v Leeds 

Kick-off: 8.15pm Thursday

Leicester drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the early kick-off on Saturday, in a game which must have frustrated both managers: Patrick Vieira will have been disappointed with his team’s attacking performance, while Brendan Rodgers may have lamented his side’s failure to capitalise on Palace’s shortcomings.

That result has left the Foxes four points adrift of safety going into the midweek round of fixtures, but that gap may well have grown bigger by the time this game gets under way on Thursday. Rodgers retains the faith of the Leicester hierarchy for now, but defeat by an out-of-form Leeds team might alter their view.

Jesse Marsch’s men could also do with all three points after their own slump in form. A 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday means Leeds have gone six matches and two months without a win. The Whites are now just one point outside the drop zone and Marsch’s methods are beginning to come under fire at Elland Road.

Leicester will be without James Maddison, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season late on in the draw with Palace. That is a blow for Rodgers, but the Foxes still have plenty of attacking quality elsewhere. This feels like a game which could belatedly kick-start Leicester’s season and I fancy the home team to do the business at the King Power.

Prediction: Leicester to win @ 2.24
Prediction: Leicester to score over 1.5 goals @ 1.94

Premier League predictions

Fulham v Villa: Aleksandar Mitrovic to score anytime @ 2.26
Fulham v Villa: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.9
Leicester City v Leeds United: Leicester to win @ 2.24
Leicester City v Leeds United: Leicester to score over 1.5 goals @ 1.94