Leicester City's Goal-Drought Crisis: A New Low Reached?

Leicester City's goal drought at the King Power Stadium has reached a new low. The Foxes have now gone 720 minutes without scoring a goal at home in the Premier League, equalling the record set by Manchester City in May 2007. With table-toppers Liverpool next to visit, a new record could very well be set.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's relegation-bound side have not found the back of the net at the King Power Stadium since 8 December - a 2-2 draw with Brighton. Leicester have registered 82 shots on goal this term but have only accumulated an expected goals (xG) tally of 6.58. Against Newcastle, Leicester's possession was at a healthy 58% but that creative spark was missing once again with an xG of only 0.47.

This from a side that have seen the tremendous highs of lifting the Premier League title, travelled Europe in the Champions League and hoisted the FA Cup high at Wembley Stadium. "This season they are not good enough, there is no fight, there is no determination, there is no want to wear the shirt, there is no confidence," said ex-Foxes winger Matt Piper. "Then there is a manager that goes missing in the dugout. There are major things wrong at this football club and it's been like this for some time. It's just not good enough. There are so many things wrong and I really fear for this football club in the coming years."

Leicester's current run of eight games without a goal at home equals that of Manchester City in May 2007. And with table-toppers Liverpool next to visit, a new record could very well be set. Van Nistelrooy is only the second manager in Premier League history to lose eight successive home games in the competition, after Daniel Farke in September 2021 with Norwich City.

"What is worrying is the run of form, lack of goals, the lack of results we can produce," he told Sky Sports. "Trying different things, different structures, different players in different positions and the results are not there. That is the worrying thing. This is a difficult night, especially in the run of form we're in. "It's important to analyse this, sleep on it and recover from it. That's it for now. There's no questions, it's dealing with this setback, another one, and that's for now what I can say."

Foxes defender James Justin said players are struggling for confidence as the weeks pass by. "It's hard to describe, to be honest, with how it's been and it makes us feel awful right at the moment," he said. "It's hard to find confidence. It's a horrible moment for the club with how we're playing on the pitch and trying to regain any confidence."

Despite being on a winless run of nine games, Leicester still have their Premier League status intact, but Justin did not provide much hope when pressed on the topic. "There is still a chance for us and we have to fight and claw for it, but we aren't showing it on the pitch," he said.