Leicester vs QPR Prediction – Champions elect host Harry Redknapp’s expensively assembled squad

At the start of the season, Harry Redknapp’s QPR were many people’s favourites to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League. However, things have not gone exactly to plan and despite having a wage bill equivalent to Borrusia Dortmund, the London side might have to settle for a playoff position. Their proposed top spot has instead been secured by Leicester City, with the Foxes surprising quite a few and looking likely to finish top of the division. Playing a traditional 4-4-2, Leicester seem very much in the mould of classic English footballing sides, with QPR’s expensive squad lining up in a more modern 4-2-3-1, though the chopping and changing of the side over the course of the season has left few players with a fixed place in the squad.

After having secured automatic promotion, Leicester could be forgiven a little slip. A 4-1 defeat to Brighton was seemingly the damage done, but Reading (chasing promotion themselves) secured a 1-1 draw in the previous game. As the league’s top scorers, however, it would be remiss to predict anything other than at least one Leicester goal. With sights set on securing the top spot as their own, a victory over QPR could be just the kind of party the home fans have been looking for.

QPR have lost two of their last five and four of their last ten. Though the Championship season is a long and tough affair, many people did not predict the side to struggle as it has at times. Whilst losses to Burnley and Ipswich are understandable, defeats to Millwall and Blackburn have left a lasting impact. Harry Redknapp will be looking to make one final push as the play offs loom. With a playoff position looking likely, a first time promotion is on the cards, but they are certainly making hard work of it.

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Staying injury free has been one of the keys to Leicester’s successes this season. Chris Wood has experienced injury problems but would now be unlikely to start ahead of Nugent or Vardy. As such, the majority of players who have served the club so well will be looking to secure the final few points needed to claim the Championship title.

Trying to predict QPR’s team this season has been like trying to predict where the rain drops will land. With so many players, both permanent and on loan, the club has done a huge amount to provide the manager with a deep squad. Players such as Assou-Ekotto, Benayoun and Morrison provide names familiar to Premier League fans, with Zamora, Kranjcar and Jenas in reserve. Going into the final matches, then, Redknapp has a larger squad to choose from and it is likely that a similar line up will be fielded as the one which put five past Nottingham Forrest recently.

Leicester

P42 W27 D9 L06

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Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2): Schmeichel; de Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan, Schlupp; Mahrez, Hammond, Drinkwater, Dyer; Nugent, Vardy

Queen’s Park Rangers

P42 W21 D10 L11

LDWLD

Predicted Line-Up (4-2-3-1): Green; Simpson, Onuoha, Dunne, Assoue-Ekotto; Jenas, Carroll; Benayoun, Morrison, Hoilett; Austin.

Prediction: Leicester 3 - 3 QPR

QPR have a wealth of attacking talent at the club, but the home support and the drive to secure the title might put up a strong challenge from the league leaders.