Leicester City

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  1. 'This team stuck together' - Van Nistelrooypublished at 16:34 26 January

    Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds the Leicester fansImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking to BBC Sport: "The winning feeling we share in the dressing room together, the football we tried to play, the goals we scored. In the end it is a dramatic 10 minutes where we had to survive, players were putting their heads in to block shots and were winning tackles.

    "They wanted this, we needed it and they lived up to it today. This team stuck together and is doing everything they possibly can to succeed.

    "It was an explosive start to the second half! I saw the team calm, they felt they were in the game and reacted very well.

    "There is of course relief and celebration in the dressing room. We were really looking for this moment and it took a long time, so now we can enjoy this for a day or two then it is back to work.

    "As I said on my arrival this will go right to the end."

    On the transfer market: "We are looking to strengthen the team within the possibilities of the club. The focus is on this team."

  2. Tottenham 1-2 Leicester: Did you know?published at 16:26 26 January

    Jamie Vardy of Leicester City about to score the equalising goalImage source, Getty Images

    Jamie Vardy scored his 10th Premier League goal against Tottenham – only against their North London rivals Arsenal (11) has he scored more.

  3. Follow Sunday's Premier League games livepublished at 13:13 26 January

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    Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action.

    • Tottenham v Leicester - 14:00

    • Crystal Palace v Brentford - 14:00

    • Aston Villa v West Ham - 16:30

    • Fulham v Man Utd - 19:00

    All kick-off times GMT

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

  4. Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Leicesterpublished at 12:30 26 January

    Sutton's predictions graphic

    Tottenham have only picked up one point from their past six league games but that is still better than Leicester, who have now lost seven in a row.

    Things are becoming increasingly desperate at Spurs, too. Ange Postecoglou seems to be getting a lot of backing from above, but this is an enormous game for him.

    They are missing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at the back but there is still an argument that the players who have come in should be doing better than they are.

    That's the way I feel anyway - I look at the Tottenham team and they should not be trailing by three goals, going on five or six, at half-time against Everton.

    I think you can lose certain games as an under-pressure manager, but not others. I was worried for Postecoglou when Spurs went three goals down because of the pressure that losing to another struggling team would put on him.

    The same applies here. Lose this and he's in deep trouble.

    I love watching Ange's teams play, I have got a lot of time for him and he has been really unfortunate with a few things, but if Spurs are beaten at home by Leicester then things could get pretty ugly even if they are still in both domestic cups and the Europa League.

    I don't think that will happen though. These two sides drew 1-1 on the opening day but this time I am backing Spurs to win comfortably.

    Sutton's prediction: 4-1

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  5. Tottenham v Leicester: Fans' Q&Apublished at 16:47 24 January

    Split fan's voice graphic with Tottenham and Leicester badges

    When it comes to Premier League form, both Tottenham and Leicester are in the bottom three. The Foxes have lost seven consecutive league games, while Spurs are without a win in six.

    With both teams in desperate need of three points, it sets up for an intriguing battle at Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday.

    While the two sides go head-to-head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head-to-head off it.

    Each got to ask three questions of the other. Tottenham fan Anna Howells from Spurs XY, external was asked the following by our Leicester supporter:

    • What has been the key reason for Spurs' inconsistency this season?

    • Do you think Ange Postecoglou should stay or go?

    • What is your Achilles heel? Where are most teams having the most success against you?

    Media caption,

    Leicester fan contributor Kate Blakemore from Leicester Till I Die, external was given the following questions:

    • I am sure many Tottenham fans would like to know how the moves to Leicester have worked out for Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp?

    • Are Leicester fans still happy with the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy?

    • Apart from getting some wins (relatable for Spurs fans), what are the key issues that need to be solved if Leicester are to avoid relegation?

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  6. Van Nistelrooy calls for unity during wretched run published at 15:50 24 January

    Nick Mashiter
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Ruud Van NistelrooyImage source, Getty Images

    It felt like Ruud Van Nistelrooy went out of his way to emphasise the unity at Leicester during his news conference on Friday.

    That he was making the point and repeatedly using the phrase was even highlighted to the Foxes boss by the media.

    Perhaps he lent on it too much but the message was clear: he needs his players to be behind him and each other to survive.

    Van Nistelrooy said: "The relationship with players and managers and coaches is one of development, improvement and praise. Things which are done well are addressed, things which can be improved are addressed.

    "We are united as a unit - as a squad and staff. I'm very motivated to change this situation. It's the only way to get out of a difficult situation. When you are in adversity, it's about unity, hard work and rolling up your sleeves."

    There have been suggestions of heated discussions with players but what manager would not have them after seven straight defeats?

    Van Nistelrooy has been in charge for just 56 days and he is already fielding questions about his position and whether there are fractures in the squad as his side sit second bottom in the Premier League.

    That is no surprise amid their current form and they will equal a club record run of losses if they fall to an eighth straight defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.

    Ultimately, Van Nistelrooy's words and calls for unity will be useless unless his side start to win.

  7. Tottenham v Leicester: Did you know?published at 15:47 24 January

    Son Heung-min scores against Leicester CityImage source, Getty Images

    There have been 130 goals in 35 Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Leicester, the highest goals-per-game ratio of any fixture to have been played at least 30 times (3.71).

  8. Van Nistelrooy on 'unity', transfers and injuriespublished at 13:39 24 January

    Tyrese King
    BBC Sport journalist

    Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On the club's transfer situation Van Nistelrooy said: "We are looking at options within the possibility to strengthen the squad, and also this deal with Tom [Cannon] is part of that situation. So we are addressing that, and are looking at players to strengthen the team within the possibilities that are there at the moment."

    • On Leicester bad form he said: "We know where we are in the league but for the remaining games it's about getting out of this situation. Sunday is a new game where we can start fighting to get out of this period. This is when you need character, togetherness and unity. We are that."

    • Asked about his own job security the Dutchman offered: "I'm focused on getting this team out of the situation, that's my only concern."

    • He called for his side to "roll-up their sleeves".

    • New signing Wayo Coulibaly could play a part against Tottenham after "a very good start to the week".

    • He is hopeful that midfielder Wilfred Ndidi can be involved in team training next week but he will miss out on the upcoming game.

    • Winger Abdul Fatawu is making "very good" progress but his manager added: "The steps he has to make, he's making them. But we also know the length of the injury, it isn't in the short term."

    • Injured goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is "making good steps but needs to make further steps to be involved in team training and playing games".

    Follow all of Leicester City's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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  9. 🎧 Clubs hold each other to 'ransom'published at 11:12 24 January

    When You're Smiling podcast graphic

    Former Leicester City goalkeeper Mike Stowell told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast that clubs hold each other to "ransom" in the January transfer window.

    " I always think that the January transfer window is the last-gasp saloon window for many clubs," Stowell said.

    "You're always held to ransom because if you go after players, everybody knows that you're desperate. They are not going to give you their better players, they want to keep their good players for the push. They are going to give you players you don't want, or you're selling average players for more money because teams are desperate for new recruits."

    Stowell also believes that the window is "only good" if you're a team "fighting for the title" or if you have "some money" and "want to recruit some extra firepower or quality".

    "At the other end of the table, I'm afraid it rarely ever works," he added.

    "I don't want to be all doom and gloom but Leicester City two years ago brought in Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar and Tete. We went to Aston Villa thinking we solved the problem with three new signings, and we know how that went."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  10. Lecce enquire about Leicester youngster Omobolajipublished at 10:22 24 January

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Laolu OmobolajiImage source, Getty Images

    Serie A club Lecce are among the clubs to have enquired about signing Leicester City winger Laolu Omobolaji.

    The Foxes are believed to be keen on tying down the 17-year-old, who is a regular for the under-18s, to a new deal.

    Omobolaji joined Leicester in February last year. He is eligible to play for both England and Nigeria through his parents.

  11. Efficient or ineffective?published at 08:05 24 January

    This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.

    BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.

    You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).

    Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.

    Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.

    League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.

    Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.

    Data compares expected goals to goals:
Team  	Round  	Goals  	Expected Goals  
Liverpool	League	50	50.23
Tottenham Hotspur	League	45	38.46
Chelsea	League	44	46.07
Manchester City	League	44	41.62
Arsenal	League	43	37.78
Brentford	League	40	35.55
Newcastle United	League	38	37.99
Bournemouth	League	36	43.34
Brighton and Hove Albion	League	35	30.97
Fulham	League	34	32.32
Aston Villa	League	33	33.85
Nottingham Forest	League	33	28.23
Wolverhampton Wanderers	League	32	23.56
Manchester United	League	27	32.86
West Ham United	League	27	30.32
Crystal Palace	League	25	30.63
Leicester City	League	23	21.62
Ipswich Town	League	20	20.32
Everton	League	18	21.43
Southampton	League	15	22.44
  12. Why Vardy and Coady will be telling 'home truths'published at 15:52 23 January

    Former Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton tells The Football News Show how senior players like Jamie Vardy and Conor Coady will be leading the inquest into their recent run of poor form in the Premier League.

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    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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  13. Van Nistelrooy 'will find it difficult... but any manager would'published at 11:55 23 January

    Fara Williams, BBC Sport columnist banner
    Ruud van Nistelrooy Image source, Getty Images

    I thought Leicester were harsh in getting rid of Steve Cooper, but the fans turned against him and we know what comes next when that happens.

    But he had Premier League experience and knew how to fight at the bottom of the table. That is important when you need results.

    Ruud van Nistelrooy has not been in that position in any of the clubs he's been involved with previously, so it is a big job for him now at Leicester. I do not think he knew the task at hand.

    The promoted clubs from the Championship are usually down at the bottom and fighting to sty up. Many people believed at the beginning of the season that the three who came up would also go back down.

    Having a manager who has the knowhow of staying in the Premier League is something money cannot buy and Cooper had that after his time at Nottingham Forest.

    But I also think the Leicester squad is not good enough to compete in the way he might want them too at this level.

    They are still reliant on Jamie Vardy, who of course has been a fantastic finisher and servant over the years. However, to rely on him now in every game does mean they are in a bit of trouble.

    Stephy Mavididi has been their only bright spark of the season, but if you look around that is it.

    I think Van Nistelrooy is going to find it difficult to keep them up, but then any manager who had gone in at this point probably would have as well.

    Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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  14. Would relegation condemn Foxes for a decade?published at 11:39 22 January

    Leicester City are mired in the relegation zone having lost seven Premier League games in a row, but could financial constraints hamper their ability to recover if they were to go down?

    Foxes fan Chris Forryan tells The Football News Show why he believes it could take 10 years to recover and why even the finest football minds would not be enough to save the team this season.

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    Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

  15. Watch: Can Van Nistelrooy turn things?published at 17:50 21 January

    Media caption,

    On a new episode of The Football News Show focused on Leicester City, Ben Croucher asks why the Foxes are having such a difficult season, with the side no better off under Ruud van Nistelrooy than his predecessor Steve Cooper. So what's going wrong and how can he keep them up?

    Watch the show above or on iPlayer here

  16. What is going wrong for van Nistelrooy?published at 17:25 21 January

    Your views banner
    Ruud van Nistelrooy managing LeicesterImage source, Getty Images

    We asked for your views on what is going wrong for Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leciester, and how he can turn his fortunes around.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Ian: RVN is not to blame for his appointment - accountability for that lies with the board. He is however responsible for finding a pattern of play to suit the players he has - not persist in trying 'his way'. So far he is an abject failure and in my book the same would happen in the Championship.

    Trev: When Ruud covered at Man Utd he had a quality team and players. Now he has lower quality players who are not performing. A novice manager was a bad idea in such a situation. It needed a tried and tested manager who knew what to do. Sorry Ruud, it's time for another change. It pains me to say he must go as I like him, he's just not experienced enough a footballer manager for our situation.

    Jack: Start Daka and give him a run of starts. He's a confidence player so we need to persist with him and get him firing. He brings more energy to the attack over Vardy and works his socks off every game. I hate to say it but it's time for Vards to move over and allow someone else to start. He's just not on it anymore.

    Bill: Financial mismanagement, poor recruitment and no plan for replacing Enzo. Compare with Brighton and we are where we deserve to be. The squad is Championship level. No lessons are ever learned - the same people are on post and no one is held accountable.

    Ken: I don't believe Leicester are a club that can really look to be one of the top 10. They won the title not long ago, but this was a freak year. Ruud needs to be given time, a lot of this squad are not really Premier League players and Jamie Vardy is running out of steam. The team needs a complete overhaul, and if the first team players don't perform, then play some of the development players. What do they have to lose?

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  17. Why Van Nistelrooy will not change despite Leicester's losing runpublished at 14:33 21 January

    Leicester City supporters directed their frustration towards Ruud van Nistelrooy during their 2-0 defeat by Fulham, with the Foxes boss admitting he understood their frustrations.

    Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan tells The Football News Show that despite their seven-game losing streak in the Premier League, Van Nistelrooy will stick with his management philosophy.

    Media caption,

    Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

  18. 'Confidence is on the floor' when goals go inpublished at 14:32 21 January

    When You're Smiling podcast graphic

    BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin says "it's actually quite incredible to watch" the belief leave Leicester City's players when a goal goes in against them.

    Speaking on the latest When You're Smiling podcast, he said: "When they concede - their confidence is on the floor.

    "As soon as that first goal [against Crystal Palace] went in and as soon as the substitutes were made - which were very, very unpopular in the stadium - you could just see the confidence draining out of the players."

    The Athletic's Leicester City correspondent Rob Tanner agrees, and thinks although some players don't seem to take it as badly as others, it cannot be long before it takes its toll on them.

    "You look at the youngsters - like [Facundo] Buonanotte and [Bilal] El Khannous - and they look like lads who are not affected too much at the moment," he said. "But, the longer this goes on, they will be affected.

    "If I'm thinking I've not got the confidence they won't keep it out of the net... how are they feeling? They're the guys who have got to do it."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  19. 'Talk about gambling' - Van Nistelrooy was 'a massive punt'published at 09:16 21 January

    Media caption,

    Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes it is no surprise Leicester City's form has not picked up under Ruud van Nistelrooy because the Dutchman was "a massive punt" by the owners.

    The Foxes remain second from bottom of the table and have lost seven of the nine league games Van Nistelrooy has been in charge for.

    Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "He wasn't part of the thought process when Leicester appointed Steve Cooper, but then because he was caretaker manager when Manchester United beat them twice, all of a sudden it's, 'oh, he must be good'.

    "Talk about gambling. It was a massive punt. I don't mean it in a disrespectful way to Van Nistelrooy as he had a good year at PSV and he did a good job as caretaker of United."

    Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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