Shaqiri helps Stoke battle for draw at Leicester

A well-taken Xherdan Shaqiri opener was cancelled out by a Jack Butland goalkeeping error as the Potters held out for a draw.

Leicester enjoyed the bulk of possession as the visitors sat back and absorbed pressure for much of a low-quality tie.

Much of the Foxes’ attacking prowess came through the right wing and Riyad Mahrez, making his first Premier League start since his January transfer saga.

Mahrez generally had a positive impact, but was dispossessed on the edge of his own area to offer Badou N'Diaye a dangerous shot on the edge of the area. The Algerian also gave away the ball for the opening goal, which came against the run of play shortly before the interval.

Joe Allen won possession on the left flank, before feeding Xherdan Shaqiri around 35 yards from goal. The Swiss had space and time to advance before unleashing an impressive curled shot inside Kasper Schmeichel’s left post.

It was Shaqiri’s third goal in as many games and his seventh league goal of the season.

Shaqiri was gifted a chance to double his side’s tally in the second half when a poor Kasper Schmeichel clearance from near the touchline fell at his feet. The Danish goalkeeper scrambled to get back in front of his net as the Swiss midfielder’s long shot sailed narrowly wide.

The equaliser came from a goalkeeping error at the other end of the pitch. Under pressure from Jamie Vardy, Jack Butland clumsily diverted a Marc Albrighton cross into his own net.

Leicester created several opportunities for the winner late in the tie, as Harry Maguire and Wilfred Ndidi hit the woodwork, while Mahrez was unable to convert a one-on-one with Butland.

However, Stoke held on for a vital point, which kept them in 19th position in the league. The point helped Leicester leapfrog Burnley into seventh place.

The Potters have arrested their awful form with six points from their last five games, but convention suggests they’ll need around 14 points from their final 10 games to survive.

The relegation battle remains incredibly tight—and less than 40 points might be sufficient for survival—but Paul Lambert’s side showed relatively little in terms of quality in this game, and will need a drastic change in form to survive.

In a relatively low-quality game, Maguire stood out for his excellent defensive contributions and attacking prowess. He hit the post late, nearly gifting the Foxes the winner.

Leicester
Schmeichel 6, Simpson 6, Maguire 8, Morgan 7, Chilwell 6, Ndidi 7, James 7, Mahrez 7, Albrighton 8, Gra 6y, Vardy 6.
Subs: Diabaté 6, Iheanacho 6.

Stoke
Butland 6, Bauer 6, Martins Indi 6, Zouma 6, Stafyldis 7, Cameron 7, Badou 7, Allen 7, Shaqiri 7, Choupo-Moting 7, Diouf 6.
Subs: Johnson 6, Adam 6, Campbell 5.

44 - GOAL! Shaqiri puts Stoke ahead out of nowhere! Allen dispossesses Mahrez on the right and feeds Shaqiri in plenty of space, around 35 yards from goal. The Swiss charges forward and places a 20-yard shot to Schmeichel's left!

71 - GOAL! It's a howler from Jack Butland! Albrighton crosses from the right and it slips out of the goalkeeper's gloves into the net! It was not going in until the shot stopper touched it.

79 - CHANCE! Leicester get a treble of chances from a corner! Mahrez forces a great save before Vardy follows up on the rebound! Then Maguire hits the post!

No team has conceded more Premier League goals than Stoke this season: 54.

Leicester are unbeaten in seven league and cup home games since their League Cup shootout exit to Manchester City.

Stoke are winless away from home in the league for nine matches, their longest run since September 2015.