Leicester City and Stoke City have played out a 1-1 draw in Saturday's Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium.
Stoke took the lead against the run of play when Xherdan Shaqiri curled into the net from 25 yards out, but Leicester were back on level terms with 20 minutes left when Jack Butland fumbled the ball into his own net.
However, the England international redeemed himself with a number of saves in the closing stages to earn the Potters a deserved point on their travels.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in the East Midlands courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Leicester City and Stoke City. While the Foxes are looking to finish in seventh place this season, Stoke would take 17th position. We have an interesting game coming up so let's see who features in each of the starting lineups...
LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Albrighton, James, Ndidi, Gray; Mahrez; Vardy
LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Jakupovic, Dragovic, Fuchs, Silva, Iborra, Diabate, Iheanacho
STOKE CITY XI: Butland; Bauer, Zouma, Martins Indi, Stafylidis; Cameron, Allen, Ndiaye; Choupo-Moting, Shaqiri, Diouf
STOKE CITY SUBSTITUTES: Grant, Pieters, Johnson, Adam, Sobhi, Jese, Campbell
Let's start with Leicester, with Claude Puel opting to make a total of four changes from the team which lost 5-1 to Manchester City in their last Premier League fixture. The most notable inclusion is Wes Morgan, who makes his first top-flight appearance since New Year's Day.
There are also starts for Danny Simpson, Demarai Gray and Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian playmaker did feature against Sheffield United last week, however, so do not expect any lingering boos for a player who had wanted to leave for Manchester City during the January transfer window.
Dropping out of the side are Aleksandar Dragovic, Christian Fuchs, Adrien Silva and Fousseni Diabate. The change in system has resulted in so many alterations, with Puel having gone for a back three at the home of the Premier League leaders.
However, the changes have made for an extremely high-quality bench which also includes Vicente Iborra and Kelechi Iheanacho, who is still to score his first Premier League goal for Leicester. The Nigerian forward has made just three starts and nine substitute outings in the top flight this season.
As for Stoke, Paul Lambert has decided to make three alterations to the team which started the 1-1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Bruno Martins Indi comes into the defence, Geoff Cameron features in central midfield and a first Premier League start is given to Konstantinos Stafylidis.
Ryan Shawcross, Erik Pieters and Darren Fletcher are the players to miss out at the King Power Stadium. Shawcross was able to travel with the squad to the East Midlands, but the centre-back is carrying an ankle injury.
Peter Crouch is not involved for Stoke this afternoon, so it means that Lambert has persisted with a front three of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Biram Diouf. They will all offer a bit of everything against the Leicester defence.
You'll have noticed the name of Campbell on the Stoke City bench? No idea who it is? Well that would be Tyrese, the son of former Arsenal and Everton frontman Kevin Campbell. The 18-year-old was originally part of the Manchester City youth setup but after making an impression in the reserves since making the switch to the Potteries in 2016, Campbell has been given his chance by Lambert.
Let's continue our build-up by talking about Leicester manager Puel. The former Southampton boss has enjoyed an excellent start to life at the King Power Stadium but the Frenchman has not been impressed with his team's recent performances. Click here to see what he has had to say.
Captain Wes Morgan has also alluded to the fact that Leicester cannot afford to think too far ahead, which may have been the case when they impressed during the winter months. See what the centre-back has had to say by clicking here.
Leicester have made progress in the FA Cup but Puel has a point about his side's league form. Just two wins have been recorded in their last 10 matches. Only Burnley's blip has kept them within touching distance of seventh spot.
However, Leicester's home form has got them out of trouble in recent months. As many as 13 points have come from their last seven league fixtures at the King Power Stadium.
Puel's men are also unbeaten at their East Midlands base since the start of 2018. Four wins and two draws have been recorded since the penalty-shootout defeat to Man City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Vardy has gone under the radar this season to a certain extent, but the England forward has 15 goals to his name in all competitions. He's also netted in his last five outings and in seven of his last 10 matches.
Let's turn our attention to Stoke. During his pre-match press conference, Lambert had plenty to say about his players, with the Scot claiming that his first-team squad must have 'sleepwalked' their way into relegation trouble. Click here to read Lambert's thoughts.
However, Lambert has also opted to speak openly about what has impressed him since his arrival in the Potteries. See what Lambert had to say on the subject by clicking here.
We've already mentioned Leicester's home record, but Stoke have not fared so well away from home. The Staffordshire-based club have the worst away record in the division with six points coming from 13 games.
Stoke have also failed to win any of their last eight matches in the Premier League. When you add the FA Cup defeat to Coventry City into the equation, you can appreciate that it's been a pretty disastrous run.
One streak to keep an eye on this afternoon belongs to Shaqiri. Remarkably, the Swiss winger has only just scored goals in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time, so he's going for three in a row this afternoon. He may need to get on the scoresheet for Stoke to get a result this afternoon.
Stoke have been indebted to Shaqiri and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting this season. Between them, the pair have contributed 10 goals and 11 assists. No-one else has come close to having a similar impact.
PREDICTION! Stoke have shown signs of improvement under Lambert, but we have to back Leicester in front of their own fans. Mahrez has already made an appearance at the King Power since the Man City saga but this is his first league outing and we expect him to play a starring role in a 3-0 win.
HEAD TO HEAD! Today's contest represents the 101st time in which these two clubs have faced each other in a competitive match, with both teams having registered 33 wins apiece!
However, Leicester have had the better of this fixture since September 2015. The Foxes are unbeaten in their last five matches against Stoke, with three wins, two draws and 11 goals coming during that period.
Earlier this season, the two clubs played out a highly-entertaining 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium. Leicester twice held the lead but it was left to their most experienced player to rescue a point. Click here to read back on that game.
After this game, Sports Mole will be providing coverage of four more matches in the Premier League. Liverpool's home fixture with West Ham United, Newcastle United's trip to Bournemouth and the six-pointer between West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield Town are all to come with 3pm kickoffs, before Watford face Everton in the 5.30pm game. All times are GMT.
Here come the two teams to a warm reception from both sets of supporters. It's certainly not warm in the East Midlands, however! Winter is in full force but there are absolutely no issues with the pitch.
A reminder of the two teams...
LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Albrighton, James, Ndidi, Gray; Mahrez; Vardy
STOKE CITY XI: Butland; Bauer, Zouma, Martins Indi, Stafylidis; Cameron, Allen, Ndiaye; Choupo-Moting, Shaqiri, Diouf
KICKOFF! Leicester get us underway.
Mahrez is quickly into the thick of the action and I was wrong - there are a few lingering boos. The playmaker's first delivery from a corner leads to another on the far side of the pitch, with James firing over from 20 yards after the ball had reached him on the edge of the area.
Leicester look very sharp. So sharp that Stoke have barely had a kick during these opening four minutes. The Foxes are playing with a high tempo and it is leading to Stoke showing too much respect. Mahrez has just seen a cross just go wide of the far post.
Stoke finally ease the pressure when Diouf goes down easily after a challenge from Simpson. The right-back is justifiably unhappy with that.
Credit to Stoke, they have managed to stifle Leicester over the past couple of minutes. An early goal for Leicester could have led to a long afternoon for the visitors.
BOOKING! The first booking of the game goes to Allen, who catches Gray on his ankle. The referee was perfectly placed to give the correct decision.
Chances have been non-existent since that early effort from James. It's competitive in the centre of the pitch but Leicester are probably just shading it.
SHOT! Lambert has spoken highly of Ndiaye and this is perhaps why. The midfielder dispossesses a Leicester player before curling a shot towards the bottom corner, which Schmeichel saves down to his left.
Leicester are starting to ping crosses in from either flank. Stoke are sitting deep to try to stop Vardy from breaking in behind them.
Regarding Leicester having joy from wide positions, Choupo-Moting is showing more of a willingness to get back to defend than Shaqiri, who is leaving Bauer to have to cope with Chilwell and Gray.
BOOKING! The referee isn't messing about with the cards this afternoon. Albrighton is cautioned for preventing a Stoke counter-attack.
For the first time in the match, Vardy almost gets in behind the Potters defence but Martins Indi does terrifically to deal with the situation.
Choupo-Moting is starting to get more and more involved down the left flank but he's lacking options in the middle. Leicester are doing well to pack the defence to deal with the aerial threat of Diouf.
BOOKING! A third yellow card in 23 minutes. There's no doubting this one either. Diouf has just cynically taken out Mahrez on the halfway line.
SHOT! Half a chance for Mahrez, who perhaps thought the offside flag was going to go up. The winger's volley from just inside of the penalty area lacked pace and went straight at Butland.
Ndiaye continues to show flashes of brilliance. He worked his way out of trouble before finding Shaqiri in a wide position, but the Swiss attacker failed to control the pass.
Stoke have just put together another quick counter-attack but while they managed to get themselves into a three-on-one scenario, one of the trio was flagged offside. Missed opportunity.
SHOT! This is greedy for Mahrez but perhaps a player of his quality is entitled to try his luck. The attacker worked his way into a shooting position before firing wide of the target from outside of the penalty area.
It's so far so good as far as Stoke are concerned. Lambert is eyeing a win from this game but the Scot would have been concerned about falling behind during the early stages. The next task is to try to reach half time on level terms.
Ndiaye has caught one in the face from Gray when jostling for position at a corner so we are going to have a quick stoppage. There was no intent from the Leicester winger.
You would have to say that Leicester are starting to have the better of this match. When Stoke do get into the final third, they don't look confident with their final pass. It's been easy work for Schmeichel, Morgan and Maguire.
That said, you can sense the frustration coming from the home supporters as well. For all of their possession and their eight corners, they are yet to force Butland into a save.
Vardy's not really had a sniff. It's no secret that Vardy would prefer to have space to run into, but Stoke have found a way to keep the in-form forward out of the game. Martins Indi has been excellent.
With just three minutes to go in this first half, it's effectively a case of whether Leicester can force another shot on goal before the break. Stoke aren't placing full focus on defending but there is certainly no rush to get the ball forward when they have it.
GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Stoke City (Xherdan Shaqiri)
Blimey. Stoke have taken the lead! A mistake from Ndidi results in the ball going to Shaqiri who is all on his own around 40 yards from goal. The Swiss then advances forward and ends up curling a shot into the net via the inside of the post. The winger has now scored in three matches in a row.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Leicester City 0-1 Stoke City
The half-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and Stoke lead thanks to that 25-yard strike from Shaqiri. Leicester have had most of the play but they've been poor in the final third, and Stoke have made them pay.
The goal came completely out of the blue. Ndidi attempted a risky pass on the halfway line and the ball went straight to Shaqiri, who was in acres of space. Stoke's star man proceeded to advance towards goal before curling a shot past Schmeichel, who could only divert the ball onto the inside of the post. It was Shaqiri's seventh goal in the Premier League this season.
For all of Leicester's possession and corners, their best chance came in the opening minutes when James drilled a shot just over the crossbar. Mahrez has been lively without producing an end product, while Vardy has barely been involved.
The two teams have made their way back out at the King Power Stadium. It doesn't appear that any changes have been made.
KICKOFF! We are back underway.
It's all Leicester at the start of this second half. Already, two blocks have been made to prevent the ball going past Butland.
The home side earn a free kick in a threatening area and Albrighton has the chance to get the ball into the box. However, his delivery is poor and goes straight out for a goal kick.
Stoke need to find a way to stop Leicester building a head of steam because the Potters are dropping deeper and deeper. Another free kick is won on the left-hand side of the pitch and after it's cleared into the path of Chilwell, the defender's shot from distance is comfortably saved by Butland.
Another ball pumped into the box results in Morgan causing problems for the Stoke backline, but the defender cannot get enough on his half-volley inside of the six-yard box.
SHOT! Shaqiri almost scores a fabulous second, but it was only after an error from Schmeichel. The Dane was out of goal and his clearance went straight to Shaqiri who was 40 yards out. However, his outswinging shot went marginally wide of the far post as Schmeichel scampered back.
Leicester are having to show a certain level of patience as Stoke pack their defence and midfield, but many of their crosses into the area are below the quality required. Butland has had a fairly easy afternoon so far.
I don't think that it will be too much longer before Puel makes his first change. The Foxes boss is stacked with options on the bench.
SUBSTITUTION! Puel has opted to make two alterations, with Diabate and Iheanacho replacing Simpson and Gray. Albrighton is going to right-back.
To Stoke's credit, they appear to fancy their chances of hitting Leicester on the break. On more than one occasion, there have been players in the middle, but the cross into the box just hasn't arrived.
SUBSTITUTION! This is bold from Lambert. On comes Campbell for his debut! Diouf is the man to make way.
The Stoke fans are buzzing with the introduction of Campbell. Not many players progress through the ranks at the Potters so they are delighted to see an academy player.
Schmeichel has just requested that Lambert change his top on the touchline because the Scot was wearing blue. That's his excuse sorted for a number of misplaced passes.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Stoke City (Jack Butland own goal)
Disaster for Stoke and for Butland! A cross from Albrighton is driven into the penalty area and Butland should make the claim. Instead, he fails to get in line with the ball and it is fumbled into his own net under pressure from Vardy.
This is going to be a big test of Stoke's character. They've been the better side in this match but Leicester are now favourites to nick a winner.
SUBSTITUTION! A second Stoke change sees Adam replace Martins Indi, with Cameron dropping back into the centre of defence.
Adam has been in the thick of the action since his introduction. He was lucky to avoid a yellow for a high challenge on Morgan before the midfielder just about got his tackle right when trying to win the ball off Iheanacho on the edge of the area.
CHANCES! It's all Leicester now. Firstly, Butland pulls off a fine one-handed save to deny Mahrez from distance before Maguire clatters the woodwork with a shot at the back post.
SHOT! Stoke will certainly take a point. Albrighton is the next to try his luck but his deflected effort goes just wide of the post with Butland wrong-footed.
The visitors have reverted to the tactics that you may have expected from them at the start of the match. They are persisting with long passes for Shaqiri and Campbell, but they can't get hold of the ball.
BOOKING! It's taken just nine minutes for Adam to go into the book. The midfielder is deservedly cautioned for pulling the shirt of Iheanacho.
CHANCE! Massive chance for Stoke. Shaqiri is played into the penalty area and he has Campbell waiting for a tap-in at the back post. However, Shaqiri can't make his mind up over a shot and a cross, and produces something inbetween.
SUBSTITUTION! A third change for Stoke sees Johnson introduced in place on Choupo-Moting.
Stoke win a free kick around 30 yards from goal. Adam and Shaqiri are standing over it...
Nothing comes from the set piece, with Adam firing the ball straight into the wall. It was ambitious but the midfielder had to take it on.
CHANCE! Less than a minute later, a poor header from Adam goes straight into the path of Mahrez who is through on goal. However, Butland makes the block before Zouma gets back to divert the ball behind for a corner.
WOODWORK! From the set piece, the ball is played short to Mahrez who curls an outswinging cross for Maguire to glance a header off the far post! The ball is all over the place in the penalty area but Stoke eventually clear.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
If there is going to be a winner, it's going to be for Leicester, but you got that impression, right?
Maybe not. Stoke have a corner - their first of the match! They couldn't, could they?
FULL TIME: Leicester City 1-1 Stoke City
The full-time whistle goes at the King Power Stadium and we have ended at 1-1. Both teams pushed for a winner but in the end, a point apiece is a fair result. Butland will be disappointed with his mistake but he also ensured that the Potters came away from the game with a deserved draw.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can stick around for the remainder of today's fixtures.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
