EFL Cup | Third Round

Sep 24, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Poundland Bescot Stadium

Walsall vs Leicester

Match preview

Despite drawing at home to bottom-of-the-table Everton on Saturday, Leicester can still be content with coming away with a result given how the game went.

Everton led early on through Iliman Ndiaye, and had further first-half chances to add to the lead, but Leicester took control in the second period and Stephy Mavididi's leveller saw the spoils shared.

The Foxes are the first team to drop any points to Everton this season, but having entered the final 20 minutes still trailing, Steve Cooper will have been glad to take something.

It does suggest they will be in a relegation battle this season, even though they avoided a points deduction earlier this month, as they are still winless in five league games.

The EFL Cup represents an opportunity for them to get wins under their belt though, like they did in the last round when they made light work of Tranmere, winning 4-0.

The three-time winners have now reached the third round for the 10th season in succession, but it was at this stage where they were eliminated last season, going down to eventual winners Liverpool.

Leicester are now renowned for their recent Premier League and FA Cup successes, but it was in this competition where they enjoyed a brilliant few years towards the end of the last millennium, winning the trophy in 1997 and 2000, and reaching the final in 1999.

Walsall have nowhere near the same pedigree in the competition, but they are just one of four League Two sides to have made it this far.

It is just the second time in 22 years that Walsall have reached round three, and it has been strong form at the Bescot Stadium which has got them here, beating Exeter City and Huddersfield Town in the process.

Their only other third round appearance in over two decades also saw them drawn against Premier League opposition, when they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Chelsea in 2015.

Leicester may not find it so easy though, as Walsall have won every game at home this season, and also claimed a 2-0 victory at Salford City at the weekend to move up into third.

Recent Performance

Walsall EFL Cup form:WW

Walsall form (all competitions):

WWLWWW

Leicester City EFL Cup form:W

Leicester City form (all competitions):

DLWLDD

Injuries and suspensions

No sidelined players for both teams

Possible starting lineups

Leicester City（4-3-3）

1Ward(GK)

21Pereira(DR)

3Faes(DC）

5Okoli(DC)

33Thomas(DL)

6Ndidi(MC)

22Skipp(MC)

8Winks(MC)

35McAteer(FWR)

18Ayew(FW)

10Mavididi(FWL)

Walsall（3-5-2）

12Hornby(GK)

26Okagbue(DC)

30Weir(DC)

24Williams(DC)

2Barrett(DMR)

3Gordon(DML)

16Maher(MC)

17Earing(MC)

25Stirk(MC)

37Adomah(FW)

7Lowe(FW)