Leicester City return to King Power Stadium for their first home fixture of 2026 knowing a win is badly needed, with struggling West Bromwich Albion the visitors on Monday night.
The Foxes are searching for their first victory of the new year after suffering a heavy defeat at Sheffield United on New Year’s Day, ending an 18-year run without a January 1 loss. Now they have a chance to respond in front of their own supporters against a Baggies side enduring a dreadful run away from home.
West Brom arrive in Leicester having lost nine consecutive league matches on their travels, a sequence that stretches back to 1973 as their worst such run. Their latest setback came at Swansea on New Year’s Day, a result that has intensified the pressure on head coach Ryan Mason.
Mason did not hide his frustration after that defeat, calling the run unacceptable and admitting responsibility while also demanding more accountability from his players. He stressed that losing so many away games, regardless of league or location, simply is not good enough.
Despite West Brom’s travel woes, Leicester will be wary. On Boxing Day, City hosted Watford, who had the poorest away record in the Championship at the time, only for the visitors to leave with all three points.
Leicester currently sit 13th in the table but could slip as low as 17th before kick-off, with defeat potentially allowing West Brom to leapfrog them and push City down to 18th. The pressure is mounting on both benches, with Mason and Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes among the bookmakers’ favourites to be the next manager dismissed in the division.
Mason insists he still believes he can change West Brom’s fortunes. He says setbacks are part of football and fine margins have often gone against his side this season, but he remains committed to his vision and confident that results will eventually follow.