Preview: Feyenoord vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

Feyenoord will attempt to move eight points clear of Ajax in the Eredivisie standings when the two sides meet at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon.

At a time when the home side have recently strengthened their hold of first place, Ajax have posted four successive draws in the Dutch top flight.

Match preview

© Reuters

In any era, five matches without success in the Eredivisie for Ajax is almost unheard of, and Alfred Schreuder is aware that it has left him fighting for his job at the defending champions.

On the back of losing at home to PSV Eindhoven on November 6, Ajax appeared to have a favourite fixture list in front of them, but they have been held by each of Vitesse, Emmen, NEC and FC Twente.

On a certain level, the goalless draw with the latter was a point gained with Ajax being at a player disadvantage for 55 minutes, although they did let slip leads in the previous three contests.

While Schreuder will feel that the situation can be retrieved, the Dutch giants are now at risk of reaching the midway point of the campaign trailing their next opponents by eight points.

On a positive note, 17 points have been collected from eight away fixtures, yet that is matched by Feyenoord's return at their home ground in one fewer fixture.

© Reuters

In fact, Arne Slot's team have conceded just twice in seven games at their home ground, and have not suffered defeat at De Kuip in any competition since losing to Twente on the final day of last season.

Like Ajax, Feyenoord have not been perfect since the resumption, with the leaders only earning a draw with Utrecht in their first game back courtesy of a last-gasp equaliser.

Since then, though, Feyenoord have netted three times in each of the games against PEC Zwolle and Groningen in the KNVB Beker and league respectively.

De club aan de Maas continue to possess an inferior attacking record in comparison to Ajax and PSV, but conceding just 14 times in 16 matches is currently proving to be the difference maker.