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Former Leicester City striker Gary Lineker has cheekily attributed the club’s battle with relegation to the timing of their Premier League fixtures. During the Match of the Day broadcast on Saturday (May 21), Lineker pointed out that Dean Smith’s side would have played on four consecutive Monday evenings. Lineker’s tongue-in-cheek explanation was met with laughter from fellow pundits Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas, although Jenas predicted that Leicester would ultimately be unable to avoid relegation.
“Let’s have a look at how it stands at the bottom,” Lineker said, taking a look at the remaining fixtures for Leeds, Everton, and his beloved Leicester. “For some of us it makes awfully grim viewing, but we’ll have a gander nevertheless. Huge game tomorrow, Leeds vs West Ham. Obviously Leicester play on Monday, again, that’s four Mondays on the bounce – I don’t know if it’s some kind of plan to make sure Leicester go down…”
“Oh stop it!” Shearer interjected, chuckling at Lineker’s conspiracy theory. However, Lineker was undeterred and continued his playful banter. “Conspiracy theories there… No, what do you think? Give me some hope,” he requested from his fellow pundits.
Jenas responded, acknowledging the strange circumstances that often arise towards the end of the season. “We’re at the end of the season where there are some strange things – West Ham, for example, have the Europa Conference League final and they’re playing in two of the games. They’ve got yourselves (Leicester) last game of the season and Leeds are going to be facing them as well. What team David Moyes picks out, I don’t know. It’s looking bleak for Leicester in my opinion.”
Leicester City’s struggles throughout the season have been evident, having picked up just 30 points from their 36 fixtures, with only eight victories. This stands in stark contrast to their impressive record of finishing in the top half of the table for the previous five seasons. With Southampton relegated and Nottingham Forest securing their safety, the fate of Everton, Leeds, and Leicester hangs in the balance. Two of these teams will face the disappointment of Championship football next season.
While Lineker’s remarks were made in jest, they shed light on the challenges Leicester City face in their battle against relegation. As the Premier League season nears its end, the uncertainty surrounding team selections and the high stakes involved make for intriguing and nerve-wracking viewing for fans and pundits alike. Only time will tell which teams will emerge victorious and secure their place in the top flight for the following season.
