Premier League | Gameweek 37

May 18, 2025 at 3pm UK

King Power Stadium

Leicester vs Ipswich

Match preview

After securing the Championship title in the 2023–24 season under Enzo Maresca's guidance, Leicester have struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League. The East Midlands side will be playing in the second tier next season, and the future of their current head coach is uncertain.

Over the past fortnight, Ruud van Nistelrooy's chances of keeping his job at Filbert Way have been boosted, with the Foxes ending an 11-game winless run and securing four points from two matches against the bottom side, Southampton, and most recently, the Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.

Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood appeared to seal maximum points for the Tricky Trees at the City Ground last time out, but a late strike from Facundo Buonanotte past Matz Sels meant the hosts dropped crucial points in their hunt for a top-five standing.

Despite their recent two-game unbeaten streak in the top flight, the Foxes remain in 19th place in the Premier League standings, a staggering 16 points behind Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur in 17th place — a statistic that underscores the disparity between the bottom three and the rest of the division this year.

This weekend, the King Power Stadium will play host to an iconic moment when Leicester legend Jamie Vardy makes his 500th and final appearance for the 2015–16 Premier League champions. The energetic forward has scored 199 goals for the club across all competitions.

Like Sunday afternoon's hosts in the East Midlands, Ipswich will be playing in the Championship next season. The Tractor Boys failed to muster the required home form to avoid a bottom-three placement.

Kieran McKenna's team have won only one of their 18 top-flight matches at Portman Road this season. The latest defeat in East Anglia came last Saturday afternoon when Brentford claimed three points with a solitary strike from Kevin Schade.

Having collected just two points from their last six Premier League matches, Ipswich are currently in 18th place in the top-flight rankings, level on points with their opponents Leicester, who have also earned 22 points from 36 matches so far this season.

Unusually, 15 of the Tractor Boys' 22 points have been collected away from Portman Road. The Championship-bound side recently enjoyed a productive day on the South Coast, where goals either side of half-time from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap sealed success over Bournemouth.

Having found the net 12 times during his debut campaign at this level, Ipswich marksman Delap is preparing for his penultimate match as a Tractor Boy. The former Manchester City youngster is set to leave Portman Road in the summer.

Recent Performance

Leicester City Premier League form:LDLLWD

Ipswich Town Premier League form:LDLLDL

Team News

Leicester are still without Abdul Fatawu, who has missed most of the Premier League season due to a serious knee injury. The Foxes are also unable to call upon several key defenders, including Ricardo Pereira (muscle strain).

The hosts also have a few attacking absentees, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Stephy Mavididi occupying beds in their club's medical room.

Van Nistelrooy is having to manage without the shot-stopping skills of his first-choice goalkeeper, as Mads Hermansen is suffering from a hernia.

Ipswich's survival bid has been massively hindered by a multitude of injuries this term, with players such as Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) and Wes Burns (knee) barely featuring in 2025.

The Tractor Boys' attacking options are further limited by the absence of Welshman Broadhead (thigh) and summer signing Sammie Szmodics (ankle).

Possible starting lineup

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi, Skipp; McAteer, Buonanotte, El Khannouss; Vardy

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Johnson, O'Shea, Burgess, Greaves; Morsy, Taylor; Hutchinson, Clarke, Enciso; Delap