Good afternoon everyone! Following a two-week absence the Premier League is back and our focus will be on the events from the King Power Stadium, where struggling Leicester City play host to a resurgent Sunderland.

It really has been a couple of months to forget for fans of Leicester. They have lost their last four league games and are without a victory since September. We may only be in November, but a return back to the Championship at the end of the season looks on the cards if they don't improve fast.

The visitors today are a Sunderland side who have also endured a testing start to the season. Following an 8-0 hammering by Southampton and a defeat against Arsenal, they bounced back with a victory over Crystal Palace, before drawing with Everton prior to the international break.

The team news has been announced, so before I go any further I can bring you the players that will be making their way onto the pitch in just over 50 minutes.

LEICESTER XI: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Schlupp, Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Vardy, Ulloa

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, O'Shea, Brown, Vergini, Reveillere, Cattermole, Gomez, Larsson, Wickham, Johnson, Fletcher

LEICESTER SUBS: Hamer, Drinkwater, King, Moore, Knockaert, Nugent, Wood

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Altidore, Coates, Buckley, Robson

Leicester have made two changes to the side that were beaten by Southampton before the international break. Riyad Mahrez and Paul Konchesky are the players that come into the starting lineup, with Danny Drinkwater and Andy King dropping to the bench.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have made just one change, with Lee Catermole replacing Liam Bridcutt after returning from suspension. It means that Steven Fletcher continues up front, with Adam Johnson and Connor Wickham supporting him in the attack.

There is no team in the Premier League in worse form that Leicester at the moment. The Foxes have picked up just one point from their last six games and they suffered a run of four defeats before the international break that has left them 18th in the table and just two points off the bottom.

Last time out they faced an in-form Southampton side and were within 15 minutes of claiming a point. Those hopes were dashed when Shane Long came off the bench to score twice and subject Nigel Pearson's men to a fifth defeat from six games.

In the early weeks of the season Leicester didn't seem to have too many problems finding the net and they memorably claimed a 5-3 victory over Manchester United. Since that day, the only time they have scored is in a 2-2 draw against Burnley, who along with Aston Villa are the only teams with a worse goalscoring record then the Foxes.

Their strikers just haven't been given the right service and the likes of Leonardo Ulloa, who scored five goals in his first five games for the club, have struggled. It is certainly an area that Nigel Pearson will want to look at when the transfer window opens next month and you suspect that plenty of changes will need to be made if they want to survive the drop.

Leicester's opponents this afternoon are only three points ahead of them in the table, but Sunderland will feel that they can start looking up after their last two results. A 3-1 win over Crystal Palace ended a run of two defeats and their last match a couple of weeks ago saw them earn a 1-1 draw against Everton.

The Black Cats had endured a frustrating opening few weeks to the season and it took them seven games to earn their first win. They had actually drawn five of their first six and weren't playing too badly, until Southampton fired eight past them to spark talks of a crisis.

Those fears have eased slightly and Gus Poyet will be desperate for his team to avoid the relegation battle that they faced last season. They looked dead and buried, before a stunning late run, which included a draw against Manchester City and wins at Chelsea and Manchester United, helped them to survive.

Just like his Leicester counterpart, Poyet will surely be looking at the January transfer window as a time to strengthen his team. He has said that he knows which positions he wants to improve and judging by their goalscoring record a striker may be on the cards.

Sunderland have only scored 12 times in the league this season and Steven Fletcher has bagged four of those. If he stays fit and his fellow striker Connor Wickham rediscovers his sparkling form of the end of last season, then they could very well be headed for a respectable mid-table finish.

This is the 83rd meeting between the teams and Leicester have a slight edge, winning 32 of those matches compared to Sunderland's 30 victories. It was Sunderland though who claimed a 2-0 win in the Championship when they last played in 2007 and the Black Cats have come out on top in their last five clashes.

PREDICTION: This is a huge game for both teams and a victory today really could be the difference between relegation and survival. Leicester couldn't be in worse form and they would rather have faced Sunderland a month ago off the back of their defeat to Southampton. Due to the recent improvement from Poyet's side, I have to back the visitors to claim the points and I can see them winning 2-0 this afternoon.

With just five minutes to go until kick off, make sure you check out what the guys on the sofa think will happen in today's match in our video preview.

Both teams are out on the pitch in front of a packed home crowd and this match will be getting started in just a couple of minutes.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power Stadium!

CHANCE! Leicester have started this game brightly and they have a decent opportunity inside the opening two minutes. Following a good spell of pressure down the right they finally win a corner which James whips in. Wasilewski arrives to meet it in the middle, but he doesn't make great contact with the ball and ends up directing his header wide of the post.

The hosts continue to look the more progressive of the two sides and they have been dangerous down both wings. On this occasion, it is Schlupp who does well to get down the left and swing in a low cross, but it is far too close to Pantilimon who claims at his near post.

Sunderland have made some huge mistakes recently and Brown gets away with a howler. He badly controls a back pass and Vardy steals the ball off him and gets in behind. However, Pantilimon rushes off his line to force the striker out wide and in the end the keeper does well to get the ball out for a corner.

Although Sunderland have grown into the match over the past few minutes, they look very nervous at the back. On a couple of occasions they have been guilty of some poor passes and loose touches inside their own half and it has given the hosts plenty of encouragement.

We haven't seen too many chances on goal so far, but Mahrez fancies his luck when he cuts in from the right and drives towards the box. He then lets fly from 25 yards out, but his low effort lacks the power to beat the keeper, who comfortably gets down to save.

CHANCE! Leicester are playing some great stuff at the moment and on the counter they nearly break the deadlock. Ulloa does well to hold the ball up, before finding Mahrez. The Algerian then slides a wonderful ball through to Schlupp, who charges in from the left and fires in a low drive that hits the side netting.

The visitors look a complete mess at the back and they have escaped another huge blunder. Wickham initially does well by controlling the ball on the right, but he blindly plays it back and Vardy is almost onto it. Luckilly for the Sunderland man, the keeper is out quickly again to hammer the ball clear.

Sunderland seemed to have regained some composure and they are enjoying their best spell in the match. They have kept possession well in the past few minutes, but they are still yet to trouble Schmeichel in the Leicester goal.

CHANCE! The Black Cats almost score with their first real attack of the match. A decent passing move ends up with Wickham sliding the ball through to Fletcher. The striker has just Schmeichel to beat, but the keeper does well to spread himself and turn the ball behind for a corner.

There are still a number of errors being made in the visitors' defence and they lose the ball allowing Leicester to break quickly on them. However, Sunderland manage to recover and crowd them out, with the chance going to waste.

Mahrez has looked very lively this afternoon and he does brilliantly to take down Schlupp's long ball in the box, before trying to turn his marker. He ends up losing his footing, but it was another dangerous moment from a side who will want to take the lead while they are on top.

SAVE! For all of the good play from the home side, it is Sunderland who have had the best chances. Their latest effort sees Johnson try to pick out the bottom corner with a swerving low drive from range, but Schmeichel gets down well to tip the ball wide of the post.

Down the other end of the pitch it's Leicester who threaten as Mahrez shows his skill to cut in from the right and whip in a teasing cross. It is just over the head of Ulloa and ends up swinging wide of the far post, with Pantilimon left helpless.

It really is pouring it down at the King Power Stadium and the conditions are not ideal. You would expect some of the players to try their luck from range, with the ball flashing around at pace on this surface.

If we are going to have a goal before half time, then it looks like Sunderland are going to get it. They have been increasing the pressure and Johnson comes close with a volleyed effort over the bar from a corner, before Wickham sees a shot blocked from inside the box.

I have already spoken about how poorly Sunderland have defended and Brown makes a mess of clearing a header from a corner, allowing the ball to bounce through to Ulloa at the back post. The striker tries to direct his header into the far corner, but it was a difficult chance and he ends up putting it over the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Larsson is the first player to pick up a booking this afternoon for dragging down Cambiasso.

We are going to have just one minute added on at the end of the first half.

It's half time at the King Power Stadium and it is still goalless between Leicester City and Sunderland. There haven't been too many chances on goal, but the visitors came the closest to scoring when Steven Fletcher was denied at point-blank range by Kasper Schmeichel.

It has been an even half, but it is Sunderland who have dominated the possession, seeing 60% of the ball. They have had four shots on goal, with two of those finding the target, while just one of Leicester's five efforts has forced Costel Pantilimon into action.

Nigel Pearson must be pleased at how his side have played, but they haven't made the most of their bright start. They were putting their opponents under a great deal of pressure, but gradually the Black Cats battled their way into the game and will feel that they should have found the net with one of their chances.

A quick look at the benches shows that there a few players who could come on and make the difference. Leicester have David Nugent and Chris Wood as two possible substitutes, while Jozy Altidore may be an option to add to the Sunderland attack.

The teams are both back out on the pitch and the second 45 minutes should be kicking off in just a few moments.

Sunderland take the kick off and get the match back underway.

The visitors have started the half well and they create the first decent chance since the break. It comes from a corner, as Fletcher is picked out unmarked, but he ends up ballooning his strike high over the bar.

SAVE! Leicester create a great opening as James drives through the middle of Sunderland's defence, before firing a strike at goal. His shot is hit straight at Pantilimon though, who does well to palm the ball away from danger.

Another chance falls James' way as Ulloa controls the ball inside the box and lays it off to him on the edge of the box. He is slightly off balance though and fires over the bar, but this is a decent spell from the hosts.

YELLOW CARD! Vardy is the first player from the home side to pick up a booking this afternoon, following a late challenge on Cattermole.

CHANCE! The hosts are well on top now and Mahrez does well to work some space in the box and fire in a low strike that Pantilimon turns wide at his near post.

PENALTY APPEAL! The home fans feel that their team should have a penalty after Mahrez tumbles in the box under pressure from Reveillere. He had latched onto a wonderful ball over the top from Ulloa, before cutting inside and tumbling, but the referee waved away their appeals.

Larsson scored a great free kick in his last match against Everton and he looks to try and curl one into the top corner from slightly further out today. He hits the strike well and gets enough power on it, but Schmeichel is well positioned to comfortably make the save.

YELLOW CARD! Cattermole is only just back from a suspension, but he picks up a yellow card on his return for a crunching tackle on Cambiasso.

Larsson is very lucky to stay on the pitch after tugging back Schlupp. He has already been booked, but the referee took him to the side and just gave him a warning. The visitors are in real danger of going down to 10 men and Poyet will be warning his players to just calm down slightly.

CHANCE! James looks to be Leicester's best chance of a goal at the moment and he shows great desire to burst towards the Sunderland box. He then exchanges passes with Ulloa and finds himself facing the keeper, but his low strike towards the far corner lacks enough power to beat Pantilimon, who dives on the ball.

YELLOW CARD! The cards keep on coming and Fletcher is booked for diving.

CHANCE! Out of nothing Fletcher finds himself through on the left-hand side of the box and tries to fire a low strike towards the near post. It was a tight angle and Schmeichel stood tall to block the ball behind for a corner.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts make their first change of the match, with Nugent coming on for Vardy.

SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland also change things around, with Bridcutt coming on for Larsson.

At the moment Sunderland are looking the most likely to break the deadlock and they are pegging the home defence back deep inside their own half. It is still all to play for though and Leicester are looking very dangerous on the counter.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a second change for Leicester, with Knockaert on to replace Schlupp.

The game has stuttered slightly in recent minutes, with a number of stoppages. It is getting a bit more cagey and you can hardly blame either side, who will both be desperate to cling on and take a point.

YELLOW CARD! De Laet picks up a booking for the hosts, for a foul on Wickham right outside the box. It has given the visitors a free kick in a very dangerous position that Gomez will take.

The free kick ends up going to waste, with Gomez failing to beat the first man. Neither side has made the most from the set pieces that have come their way this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland make their second change, with Buckley coming on for Gomez.

SUBSTITUTION: Leicester make their final change of the match, as Wood comes on to replace Ulloa.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.

The final whistle blows at the King Power Stadium and it has finished without a goal. It wasn't the worst game you will ever see, but the standard of finishing from both teams must improve if they are to avoid a relegation scrap this season.

That just about does it for our coverage today. Please stay with us for analysis and player ratings of all the Premier League matches that took place. Until next time, goodbye!