Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy thinks that their Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday was a big one.
The Foxes are currently one place and two points above the relegation zone. They are also five points above second-bottom Wolves, who sacked manager Gary O’Neil last Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at Molineux.
“Every game for us is huge. Everything has to be right to get results in the Premier League, and so will be the next one as well,” said Van Nistelrooy.
Van Nistelrooy’s side were beaten 4-0 away to Newcastle last weekend after having taken four points from back-to-back home games against West Ham and Brighton.
“We could improve the structure in which we want to play with the ball,” he said.
“We are in a process of two weeks together. We had two positive results, but this one wasn’t the best of afternoons for us.
“Against top teams in the league, we help them on their way with a couple of set-pieces in their favour.
“I think it’s development of the team as well. We need to learn form these games and how Newcastle outplayed us in counter-attacks. They were clever in the block and set-pieces. It is a long season. We move on, reflect and get better form this.”
We have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil and his backroom staff.
We thank them for all of their effort and hard work over the last 16 months.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 15, 2024
Wolves, meanwhile, are likely to have a new man in the dugout in time for their trip to the King Power Stadium.
Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira has reportedly agreed a deal to take over at Molineux, having previously been in charge at Saudi club Al-Shabab.
Prior to his sacking, O’Neil had said that it was proving “unbelievably difficult” for the team to cope at the level they were at.
“[The opposition] put balls into the box and we can’t cope,” he said.
“It is proving really difficult for us as a group to find a way, no matter how we play.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Leicester captain Vardy is their top scorer this season with six goals in the Premier League, while he has also supplied three assists – second to Wilfred Ndidi (four) in the squad.
The 37-year-old has scored two goals in his last three appearances and is equal-13th in the Premier League for goal contributions (nine).
Wolves – Matheus Cunha
Cunha’s goal in Wolves’ 2-1 defeat to Ipswich last time out was his 22nd for the club in the Premier League – only Raul Jimenez (40) has scored more for them in the competition.
He currently ranks eighth in the Premier League’s top scorer standings, having netted eight times in the league this season.
MATCH PREDICTION: LEICESTER WIN
Wolves come into this match having lost 21 Premier League games within the calendar year, which is their biggest total since 2012 (25).
Their nine points and 40 goals conceded are their worst tallies 16 games into a top-flight season since 1983-84 (7 points, 40 conceded), when they suffered the first of three consecutive relegations to the fourth tier.
They are currently second-bottom of the Premier League, five points behind fourth-bottom Leicester and have lost four straight matches.
Leicester have taken four points from their two homes games against West Ham and Brighton since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge at the club.
They are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League home games against Wolves (W4 D2), conceding just one goal in that run. They’ve won each of their last three against them at the King Power Stadium.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leicester – 43%
Draw – 26.7%
Wolves – 30.3%
