Leicester v Sheffield United: Premier League betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Leicester v Sheffield United in the Premier League on Thursday.

Where to watch

Live on Sky One, Sky Sports Premier League & Arena, 6pm Thursday

Best bet

Sheffield United or draw double chance
3pts 5-6 Betway

Team news

Leicester
Caglar Soyuncu is suspended so Ryan Bennett could start in defence. James Maddison and Ben Chilwell face fitness tests while Daniel Amartey and Ricardo Pereira are injured.

Sheffield United
Luke Freeman and Leon Clarke are sidelined and John Fleck is a doubt.

Match preview

Sheffield United upset in-form Chelsea in their last Premier League fixture so out-of-sorts Leicester can expect a tricky test at home to the remarkable Blades.

The Foxes had looked set for a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League after a stunning start to the season.

However, wins have proved hard to come by for Leicester since the middle of December and they are now outsiders in the three-way battle with Chelsea and Manchester United for the two spots behind Liverpool and Manchester City.

A 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace and a 1-1 draw at Arsenal represented a mini-revival for the Foxes but last weekend's 4-1 loss at relegation-threatened Bournemouth looked a major setback.

The bare scoreline was bad enough given the Cherries' woes but the manner of the defeat made it even worse as Leicester were leading through an early Jamie Vardy goal until the 66th minute.

Just two minutes later they were 2-1 down and had centre-back Caglar Soyuncu sent off on their way to a demoralising defeat at Dean Court.

With Soyuncu suspended, Ricardo Pereira injured and James Maddison and Ben Chilwell doubtful, Brendan Rodgers could be without some key players for the clash with the Blades and Leicester's squad depth has been found wanting since the turn of the year.

They should not expect any sympathy on that front from Sheffield United, who continue to perform miracles given their small squad, meagre resources and lowly pre-season expectations.

Back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United in June might have signalled the beginning of the end of the Blades' fairytale but punters have learned never to write off Chris Wilder's side.

They have rattled off home wins over Tottenham (3-1), Wolves (1-0) and Chelsea (3-0), as well as a 1-1 draw at Burnley, another top-ten team, so the trip to Leicester should hold few fears for Wilder's men.

The Foxes have been in decline since a 4-1 win at Aston Villa on December 8 and their only subsequent victories have been against West Ham (twice), Newcastle, Villa and Palace.

The Blades are stronger than those opponents, on recent and season-long form, so they appeal on the double-chance market at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester have lost only three of their 17 home games this term so it is worth keeping the draw on your side. Sheffield United have lost just four times away from home - at Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle, where they were reduced to ten men when the game was goalless.

Key stat

Leicester won 12 of their first 16 Premier League games this season but just five of their next 19.

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