Tottenham Hotspur-Leicester City Preview

Bottom of the table at Christmas, Leicester City are in danger of losing touch with the pack at the foot of the Premier League.

Nigel Pearson's Leicester (2-4-11) have just 10 points from their 17 matches and have lost nine of their last 10, leaving them five points from safety.

A scoreless draw with Sunderland last month is the only point the Foxes have picked up since early October, but Pearson believes his team has deserved more from some of their performances.

"We are coming into criticism for our league position," Pearson admitted. "We still feel it's a situation that can be turned around. We know our performances don't reflect where we are. I'd rather win very luckily and play awfully as long as we get the right result. For us to change our fortunes we've got to eradicate some of the mistakes we're making.

"I'm trying to limit the pressure the players are under. There has to be a positive slant. We need to get this elusive win and we'll be doing everything we can to change our fortunes on Boxing Day."

Friday will see Leicester welcome Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur (8-3-6) to the King Power Stadium. The north London club have been inconsistent as they adapt to the methods of their new manager, but Pochettino's tactics seem to be clicking after three wins in a week - highlighted by a 4-0 demolition of Newcastle in the League Cup. Breakthrough star Harry Kane scored in all three matches, while the link-up play between the Englishman, Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela in Saturday's 2-1 win over Burnley have greatly encouraged Spurs' management team - particularly as Lamela scored a terrific winner to record his first league goal in Tottenham colours.

The Lilywhites have only lost one of their last six in league play, and that game aside, have conceded just four goals in five. Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio are showing signs of forming a promising centre-back partnership, and the Belgian is determined Spurs will add to their haul on Boxing Day.

"We feel very confident so if everyone continues like this then we can win at Leicester," Vertonghen said. "Burnley played well on Saturday, but we defended well and didn't give them too many chances. They scored an amazing goal in the first half but for the rest of the game we didn't give them too much in terms of clear opportunities.

"We need to continue winning at Leicester - we have to keep the run going."

Tottenham's only major injury concern is over Ryan Mason, but Pochettino revealed in his pre-match press conference the midfielder's ankle injury is not as severe as first thought and he may be able to keep his starting place against Leicester.

There was more good news for Tottenham this week as they confirmed a January move for DeAndre Yedlin, with the Spurs manager describing the American right back as "a young player with great potential".

The Foxes will be without injured goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (foot), but Matthew Upson is close to a return from his ankle problem.

Leicester will also be without their manager on the touchline against Spurs, as Pearson is serving a one-match ban for his altercation with a fan during last month's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.