Key occasions
John Brewin
Brighton 0-0 Wolves: We are go on the Amex, and Brighton nearly instantly engae the excessive press. Gary O’Neil could have a plan; he at all times has a plan.
It was brief however candy, this live running a blog stint. I’ll hand you over to John Brewin, who’s necked 5 cuppas and is able to go once more.
Before their assembly on Boxing Day, Leicester and Ipswich had not crossed swords since February 2014. The Foxes have been triumphant that day, profitable 3-0 with the opening aim scored by a sure Jamie Vardy. He’s on the bench this night, a decade later, a bit extra drawn and grizzled however nonetheless a menace. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see whether or not he makes it on to the pitch, having simply come again from a knee damage.
Will Magee
As John Brewin takes a well-deserved breather after his Afcon live weblog, it’s me, Will Magee, who’ll be kicking issues off. First up, Stephy Mavididi, the Leicester ahead, has been chatting with membership media concerning the significance of a fixture which pits the league leaders towards their third-placed rivals.
“I’m looking forward to it, the whole team’s looking forward to it,” he stated. “It’s a big game. We’ve prepared well, I’m just excited to get going. Obviously it helps that we’ve played them recently [in a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day] so we know what we need to do to get a result. We’ve got a game plan, we’ve got to stick with it and see what we can come away with at the end of the game.”
Leicester v Ipswich groups
Leicester: Hermansen, Ricardo, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin, Choudhury, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, McAteer, Mavididi, Cannon. Subs: Stolarczyk, Coady, Nelson, Doyle, Albrighton, Marçal, Akgün, Praet, Vardy.
Ipswich: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Travis, Luongo, Burns, Chaplin, Harness, Jackson. Subs: Walton, Tuanzebe, Ball, Humphreys, Taylor, Hutchinson, Sarmiento, Aluko, Broadhead.
Referee: Josh Smith.
Brighton v Wolves groups
Brighton: Steele, Hinshelwood, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Gross, Gilmour, Milner, Buonanotte, Welbeck, Joao Pedro. Subs: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Lallana, Moder, Baleba, Ferguson, Peupion, Boaitey.
Wolverhampton: Sa, Kilman, Dawson, Gomes, Semedo, Doyle, Lemina, Doherty, Sarabia, Neto, Cunha. Subs: Mosquera, Griffiths, Santiago Bueno, Hugo Bueno, Bentley, Bellegarde, Hodge, Chirewa, Fraser.
Referee: Craig Pawson.
Preamble
The Premier League’s reasonably odd winter break that isn’t truly a break attracts to its shut with a match between the at all times attention-grabbing Brighton and Gary O’Neil’s battling Wolves staff. Just three factors separate eighth from eleventh as two golf equipment of the division’s center lessons try to keep near the European positions and away from the stragglers.
Meanwhile, within the EFL, the place there is no such thing as a such factor as a relaxation, there’s a match of presumably higher consequence with a gathering of leaders Leicester and third-placed Ipswich. One staff is enjoying high-quality soccer with the very best funding within the division whereas the opposite is enjoying good soccer with reasonably much less funding. Ipswich want a win to climb into second spot, leapfrogging in-form Southampton.
So, kick-off within the PL is at 7.45pm and the EFL at 8.00pm. Join me.
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