Gary Lineker has suggested that Leicester City have been put at a disadvantage in their quest for Premier League survival by being forced to play four consecutive matches on a Monday night.
The Foxes are in serious trouble at the bottom-end of the table and could find themselves all-but relegated on Monday evening should Leeds United win at West Ham United on Sunday and they lose at Newcastle United on Monday.
Dean Smith's side will also have to take on the Hammers before the end of the season, hosting them next weekend in their final match of the season.
With Nottingham Forest safe and Southampton's relegation confirmed, the remaining spots will be taken by two of Everton, Leeds and Leicester.
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The trip to the north-east will be the Foxes' fourth consecutive match on a Monday having played Everton, Fulham and Liverpool, picking up just one point from that trio of fixtures. All of which have been broadcast on Sky Sports.
They are also winless in their last four matches since beating Wolves 2-1 on 22 April and Match of the Day presenter and Leicester fan Lineker believes the Foxes' fixture schedule could prove to be disadvantageous.
Speaking on Saturday night's instalment of Match of the Day, Lineker said to pundits Alan Shearer and Jermain Jenas: “Let’s have a look at how it stands at the bottom.
“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…”
Shearer interrupted with, “Oh stop it!” before Lineker added: “Conspiracy theories there… No, what do you think? Give me some hope.”
Jenas then added: “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.”
Lineker then went on to joke with Shearer that his side Newcastle should take it easy with Champions League all-but confirmed. "Your guys now, Newcastle, are pretty much absolutely certain to be in the Champions League," said Lineker.
“Can you take it easy on Monday? Just relax a little bit… Anyway, we’ll move on!”
After Everton's dramatic 1-1 draw at Wolves on Saturday, the Foxes have to beat Newcastle to have a fighting chance at survival with Smith's men three points from safety with two matches to go. That gap will increase to four should Leeds win at West Ham.
The Toffees host already-safe Bournemouth on the final day next weekend whilst Leeds will take on an out-of-form Tottenham at Elland Road.
Topics: Leicester City, Gary Lineker, Premier League
Dan Hargraves