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Attendance: 31,969
Leicester logo
Premier League
Oct 22, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Crystal Palace logo

3-1

Musa (42'), Okazaki (64'), Fuchs (79')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Cabaye (85')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 3-1 Crystal Palace - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Leicester City's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
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Leicester City have returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Ahmed Musa netted his first goal for the club when firing in from distance just before half time, and Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs also got on the scoresheet in the second half.

Yohan Cabaye netted a consolation goal for the Eagles but they were made to pay for failing to take their opportunities earlier in the match.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the King Power Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

A few years ago, a Premier League fixture between Leicester City and Crystal Palace would most likely be deemed as a six-pointer with both teams fighting it out at the bottom of the table but how times have changed? Not only are Leicester the current league champions, Palace sit in the top half of the standings after a solid start to the season.

Before we continue to preview this match and bring you all of the team news from the East Midlands, let me point you in the direction of our live coverage of Bournemouth's clash with Tottenham Hotspur. It remains goalless with 15 minutes left so what are you waiting for - click here and keep up-to-date with the conclusion!

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at what decisions Claudio Ranieri and Alan Pardew in regards to their starting lineup.

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, King, Musa; Okazaki, Slimani

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Vardy, Albrighton, Amartey, Schlupp, Zieler, Gray, Ulloa

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Mandanda, Ward, Tomkins, Delaney, Kelly, Cabaye, McArthur, Ledley, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBSTITUTES: Hennessey, Fryers, Flamini, Lee, Sako, Wickham, Campbell

The main news coming out of the Leicester changing room is the demotion of Jamie Vardy to the bench. Given his recent scoring drought and his usual work-rate, it doesn't come as a huge surprise but we will get to see how Liecester cope without his runs in behind the defence. Marc Albrighton has also been dropped with Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki coming into the team. Wes Morgan has recovered from the knock he picked up in midweek.

As for Palace, Pardew has handed a recall to Yohan Cabaye while he continues with the front three of Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke, who missed a penalty against West Ham last weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture will be the 66th time in which the two teams have met in a competitive fixture with Leicester currently holding a 25-23 advantage in terms of wins. Leicester edged both fixtures last season but before then, Palace had emerged victorious on three of the previous four occasions.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Vitality Stadium and Bournemouth have managed to recorded an excellent goalless draw with Spurs. The visitors had the chance to go top of the table with victory on the South Coast but they were unable to break down a resolute Cherries rearguard. Bounremouth are looking pretty useful at home this season - that's now 10 points from 15. Read our on-the-whistle report here.

The point for Bournemouth has moved them into ninth place in the Premier League table, just ahead of Palace who drop to 10th. The Eagles will need to gain a positive result this afternoon to move back ahead of Eddie Howe's side.

Regardless of today's result, you'd expect Palace to remain ahead of Leicester. The Foxes require a four-goal victory in order to replace Palace in the top half of the standings on goals scored.


If you take a look at our Stat Centre, you can see that Leicester have only scored eight times in the league this season. That comes as a bit of a surprise when you consider they were scoring from all angles during the last campaign but it also highlights how vital the goals of Vardy were during their Premier League title success. It's time for the likes of Slimani and Musa to chip in with a couple this afternoon.

Slimani has already netted twice in the Premier League but both goals came in the victory over Burnley so it's time he added to that tally with that fixture coming over a month ago.

Musa went into the season with high expectations after looking hugely impressive against Barcelona in a pre-season friendly but he is still awaiting his first Foxes goal. Six of his nine appearances have come from the bench, however, so maybe he deserves some slack, for now at least.


The same can be said for Palace forward Benteke, who came in for some criticism after missing a penalty last weekend. His place in the team had been questioned by some but it was ludicrous to suggest he should be dropped after the impact he has had at Selhurst Park.

Not only has he scored three times in six league appearances, his goals have come in tight matches with a last-minute winner helping Palace beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and his brilliant header earning his team a share of the spoils at Everton. Palace are getting value for money from the Belgian and if he can continue at a rate of a goal every two games, Palace will have no issues with avoiding relegation.


This is what Ranieri said when quizzed on Vardy. It's worth noting that Vardy has made 14 appearances for club and country this season while also featuring on away trips to Slovakia, Slovenia and Club Brugge. All that after barely having a break after England's dismal showing at Euro 2016. A weekend out of the spotlight may do him good.



PREDICTION! We aren't expecting many goals in this one although if Mahrez, Slimani, Musa and Benteke all show up, we could be made to look very foolish. We are going to go for a 2-1 win over Leicester with Vardy coming off the bench to get the winner. We love a fairytale at Sports Mole...

As always, there is loads going on at Sports Mole. As well as this game, we have a wide selection of matches that you can access via our live commentaries page. Make a note of it - you may need it during the afternoon.

The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium. We will be underway very shortly.

We are underway in the East Midlands.

It's been a decent start from Leicester and they've already had an opportunity to open the scoring thanks to a mistake from Mandanda. However, despite the ball falling at the feet of Okazaki, his attempted lob when just wide of the post.

SHOT! After surviving a corner, Palace made inroads up the other end of the pitch but the move ended with Cabaye sending a rasping effort marginally wide of Schmeichel's post. This is shaping up to be a good match.

The Foxes made all of the early running but Palace have come right back at them. Morgan had to get in the way to prevent a Zaha strike finding the target. I'm surprised to see the defender out there today - he struggled with injury throughout the Champions League fixture with Copenhagen in midweek.

WOODWORK! That's the kind of threat which Benteke will always offer. An outstanding cross from Townsend finds the head of the Belgian but his header cannons off the crossbar. Schmeichel looked beaten there.

This is very much all Palace now. Moments after a Cabaye cross missed everyone inside the penalty area, Townsend was given the opportunity to run at the defence but after cutting inside onto his left foot, he could only blaze over the bar.

Bit better from Leicester but they are coming up against a Palace side who have every confidence that they can get something from this game. We haven't seen a lot of Musa but maybe he is just warming into the game.

Now we see a bit more of the Nigerian as he provides a cross for Slimani to get his head on, Unfortunately for the Foxes, it goes high over the bar.

Mahrez is another Leicester player who has not seen much of the ball but he finally comes to life with a dazzling run which wins a free kick and a set piece that needs to be headed behind by the Palace backline. I'm sure Ranieri will be calling for more of the same.

CHANCE! Leicester are far from dominating but they have much more control of this game than they did 10 minutes ago. Like Benteke, Slimani always looks a threat in the air and he has just glanced a header wide after meeting a Fuchs cross.

If you think this is the only game which is lacking goals, then think again. There's just been the one strike in the Premier League so far and that has come at the KC Stadium where Stoke lead 1-0 thanks to Shaqiri.

CHANCE! The chance has come via a Mahrez shot but it's Okazaki who nearly gets the telling touch when he flicks the strike just over the bar. Palace are offering very little in the way of an attacking threat now.

Just five minutes to go until the break now. Aside from Benteke's header which clipped the bar, we haven't come too close to the deadlock being broken. It might take a bit of inspiration from someone to open the scoring here.

GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Crystal Palace (Musa)

Is that enough inspiration for you?! Leicester take the lead at the King Power Stadium and it's Musa who has got it. After Slimani teed him up on the edge of the penalty area, he lashed the ball past Mandanda to give his team what is probably a deserved lead. That's his first for the Foxes in 10 appearances.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 1-0 Crystal Palace

The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Leicester lead courtesy of that fine strike from Ahmed Musa. Palace had the better of the opening 15 minutes but since then, they have struggled and it may take a bit of tinkering from Pardew to change the course of this match.

We are back underway in the East Midlands. No changes for either side. How can Palace respond in this second 45 minutes?

The first opportunity of the second half falls to Slimani but he is unable to direct his diving header on goal. It was a tough chance but you would not have put it past the Algerian.

Palace have also had the ball in the box but two players got in each other's way and the chance was soon spurned. They need to be more decisive when they have the opportunity because they still await a decent opening since Benteke hit the woodwork.

That said, they are definitely giving Leicester a lot more to think about. A neat exchange on the edge of the box ends with Cabaye firing over from distance. Leicester need to find a second wind. Don't be surprised to see Albrighton introduced sooner rather than later.

SHOT! Drinkwater isn't one to regularly get on the scoresheet but here, he tries his luck from 25 yards only to see his shot deflected wide. The midfielder is another to have a big workload since the start of the season.

GOAL! Leicester City 2-0 Crystal Palace

Leicester have a second and it's Okazaki who has got it. The Japanese playmaker has normally been substituted by now but he remained on the pitch and he has given his side a comfortable cushion with a well-struck shot into the near corner after Drinkwater's cross had been cut out.

CHANCE! Leicester have one hand on the three points but Palace aren't out of this yet. Zaha hasn't done much in this game but he has just forced a solid intervention out of Schmeichel.

Just the 20 minutes to go in this one. We are still awaiting a substitution from either manager. I'm sure it won't be long!

SHOT! Cabaye is always looking to shoot when he has the ball at his feet outside of the box and when you have his talent, who can blame him. On this occasion though, his effort is deflected into the hands of Schmeichel.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Double change from Palace with Lee and Campbell coming on to replace Ledley and Townsend.

CHANCE! Palace are coming on strong as we approach the final 15 minutes. Cabaye gets a rare chance in the penalty but he still can't find a way past Schmeichel who makes a terrific save at point-blank range.

SUBSTITUTION! Ranieri could probably have gotten away with leaving Vardy on the bench but he has decided to introduce last season's top goalscorer in place of Slimani.

GOAL! Leicester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (Fuchs)

If it wasn't game over before, it most certainly is now. Fuchs has just opened his Foxes account with an absolute howitzer of a strike from 25 yards. Make sure you check it out later. Leicester are back to winning ways in the Premier League.

In all fairness to Palace, they are still trying to salvage something from this game, despite the odds being astronomical. Schmeichel has just come to Leicester's rescue again to deny Benteke. He's been one of his side's best players today.

GOAL! Leicester City 3-1 Crystal Palace (Cabaye)

Game on> Probably not, but Palace have the goal that their performance has deserved. After receiving the ball from Zaha, Cabaye finally finds a way past Schmeichel with a shot into the corner.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

I think we are all but done at the King Power. Leicester have seen off the threat that was coming from their opponents.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 3-1 Crystal Palace

The full-time whistle goes in the East Midlands and Leicester have secured an excellent win over a Crystal Palace side who will wonder how they didn't score more than the one goal. It's not quite enough to move ahead of the Eagles in the standings but Ranieri will most certainly take it after their poor form since August.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope you will stick around for the match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion which is coming right up. Goodbye for now.

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Claudio Ranieri celebrates at the end of the Premier League game between Watford and Leicester City on March 5, 2016
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Tables header RHS
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1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
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5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
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8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
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14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720

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