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Preview: Leicester City vs. Stoke City

By Daniel Garza

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City (R) takes the ball past Bruno Martins Indi of Stoke City (L) during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Leicester City at Bet365 Stadium on December 17, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City (R) takes the ball past Bruno Martins Indi of Stoke City (L) during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Leicester City at Bet365 Stadium on December 17, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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Stoke City prepare to face defending Premier League Champions, Leicester City, on Saturday in a crucial match for both clubs.

The international break is over and Premier League football returns to action this weekend. Stoke find themselves faced with a tough test on Saturday as Leicester City are fighting their way back up the table. Only six points separate the two sides and a loss for the Potters could see them slip into the bottom half of the table.

Preview

This will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season as their first encounter ended in a 2-2 draw in December. Stoke held a two-goal lead at halftime, however, Leicester came back to score two goals late in the second half to earn a point.

Leicester has only lost once to Stoke in the two clubs five previous meetings in the Premier League.

The duo of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been in fine form as of late. Vardy has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last three appearances for his club. Mahrez has scored in his last two appearances for Leicester.

Stoke took four points from a possible nine in the month of March and will look to solidify their place in the top half of the table in April. Their most recent match ended in disappointment as Chelsea took all three points with a late goal.

The Potters have played decently away from home this season and will look to end Leicester’s hopes of winning three consecutive home matches. Eighty-percent of Leicester’s points this season have come from home fixtures.

In injury news, Leicester captain Wes Morgan is out with a back injury. Stoke will be without Xherdan Shaqiri for the eighth consecutive match and American Geoff Cameron is listed as doubtful.

Match Info

Who: Leicester City vs. Stoke City

When: Saturday, April 1 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Where: King Power Stadium

How to Watch: Live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra and on the NBC Live Extra App (U.S). Not televised in U.K.