Date: Tuesday, December 17 Venue: King Power Stadium Kick-off: 19:45 Can Leicester City progress to the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2000 by defeating the in-form Manchester City?
Team News
Leicester have been boosted by the news that Jamie Vardy will play against Manchester City despite the forward nursing foot and shoulder injuries. Chris Wood (hamstring), Sean St. Ledger (groin) and Tom Hopper (shin) remain sidelined. Manchester City will likely be without star striker Sergio Aguero for up to a month due to a calf injury, but fellow forward Stevan Jovetic is back and could feature tonight. (bbc)
Key Stats
Leicester are winless at home to Manchester City in seven attempts in all competitions (D4, L3) since a 1-0 league victory in February 1988. No side has scored more League Cup goals this season than Leicester (13). The Citizens have won six and drawn one of their last seven League Cup meetings with lower-division sides. The Foxes have attempted more shots than any other side in the competition this term (51).
Two of England's most attacking sides clash tonight in what promises to be a lively League Cup quarter final at the King Power Stadium. Leicester, third in the Championship, have scored 32 goals this season and City, fourth in the Premier League, an incredible 47. After beating Bayern Munich 3-2 in their own backyard before hitting league leaders Arsenal for six on Saturday, few would expect Leicester to see off tonight's opposition and progress to the semi-finals of this competition for the first time since 2000. City are averaging three per-game in league and cup competition this season and always look capable of outscoring their opponents, yet The Foxes have also been playing vibrant, attacking football recently. Leicester have scored more League Cup goals than any other side and attempted more shots than anyone else in the tournament this term, meaning Joe Hart will have to be on his toes if, as expected, he returns to goal after being displaced by Costel Pantilimon. Leicester should not be underestimated despite the difference in divisions - six teams from outside the Premier League have reached the League Cup semi-finals in the last five seasons, and City will know their wealth and expensively-assembled squad does not equate to a free ticket to the latter stages.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
