Foxes to topple Norwich, Blues can sink Saints among PL clashes

Lee Gormley | February 26, 2016

Leicester City v Norwich City

Foxes out to extend lead at summit

Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City will aim to extend their lead at the Premier League’s summit with victory over Norwich City at the King Power Stadium, having opened a two-point gap over second-placed Tottenham at this stage.

The Foxes are 8/5 with Coral to prevail without conceding on home soil, though are 5/1 to taste defeat after winning just one of their previous five meetings with Norwich at the King Power, including three losses.

In a 2-1 victory at Carrow Road in the reverse fixture, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy opened proceedings and the clinical marksman is 7/2 to do so again, while Riyad Mahrez is 5/1 to net the game’s last goal.

For Alex Neil’s visiting Canaries, Cameron Jerome, Patrick Bamford and Dieumerci Mbokani are all 2/1 to dispatch anytime on the road, with the latter having struck in the previous meeting.

Southampton v Chelsea

Chelsea can continue run over Saints

Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea recovered from their Champions League loss to PSG by hammering Manchester City in the FA Cup, and the Blues will look to maintain their rejuvenated domestic run with further success over Southampton on their travels to St Mary’s.

The Londoners arrive on the south coast after thrashing Man City 5-1 and are currently unbeaten in the top flight under their temporary Dutch boss, though they lost to the Saints in their most-recent meeting at the height of Jose Mourinho’s troubles.

Chelsea are 9/2 to secure three points and both teams score, while Ronald Koeman’s Saints are 7/4 to end their opponent’s unbeaten league streak on home turf, with January signing Charlie Austin 11/2 to strike last.

Revived frontman Diego Costa is 5/1 to open the scoring, while Eden Hazard is 11/4 to dispatch anytime after enjoying a return to form of late, as the visitors aim to move further up the standings.

Stoke City v Aston Villa

Stoke seek to further Villa’s woes

Stoke City have four of the last five Premier League match-ups with current rock-bottom club Aston Villa, and Mark Hughes’ men are 29/20 for another victory without conceding this time around.

Remi Garde’s Villans look down and out of the top flight at this late stage of the campaign and come into this clash on the back of a 6-0 demolition by Liverpool, with the West Midlands strugglers 5/1 to cause an upset in Stoke.

Marko Arnautovic bagged the winner when the two sides last met and he is 7/4 to strike again anytime on home soil, while former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic is 5/1 to open proceedings.

For the stuttering visitors, Rudy Gestede and Gabriel Agbonlahor are both 15/8 to dispatch anytime, with young winger Jack Grealish 10/3 to chip in with a goal on their travels.

Watford v Bournemouth

Hornets aim to sting Cherries

Watford enter their encounter with fellow promoted outfit Bournemouth in a much more promising position to their former Championship rivals, but they have failed to overcome the Cherries since August 2013.

The Hornets currently sit just four points adrift of a European position, while Eddie Howe’s south coast club are the same amount clear of the relegation zone, with Quique Sanchez Flores’ hosts 17/4 to triumph and both both teams score.

Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo have been Watford’s key forwards this term and are 5/4 and 6/5 to strike anytime on home soil, with the latter having netted in the 1-1 meeting last year.

Cherries attacker Benik Afobe is 6/4 to dispatch anytime, having netted three times in six outings since arriving in January from Wolves, while Glenn Murray is 13/2 to score first, after doing so in the reverse clash.

Tottenham v Swansea City

Tottenham chasing Swans success

Tottenham recently learned that Borussia Dortmund await them in the Europa League last 16, but they are seeking to maintain their rampant domestic form beforehand in their latest meeting with Swansea City on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs are tracking down league leaders Leicester, and a victory here coupled with a slip up from Ranieri’s men would see them go top of the standings this Sunday.

The Londoners are 6/5 to prevail without conceding on home soil, while the travelling Swans are 15/2 to take three points away from White Hart Lane, after three consecutive games without a win.

Harry Kane suffered a broken nose and missed the Europa League victory over Fiorentina, but is likely to feature against Swansea while donning a face mask, and is 3/1 to open the scoring. Christian Eriksen dispatched a double in the last meeting and the deadly Dane is 8/1 for another brace.

Meanwhile, Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew are both 11/4 to strike anytime against, with the latter having netted in the previous meeting.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Jamie Vardy to score first for Leicester City.