Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this midweek Premier League fixture as Leicester City host Sunderland at the King Power Stadium. These two were both in the relegation zone a little over a month ago, but the champions have looked like an entirely different team under Craig Shakespeare whereas Sunderland look increasingly doomed at the bottom of the table. We will have a more in-depth look at both clubs a little later, but for now let's start with the team news...

LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs; Ndidi, Drinkwater, Gray, Mahrez; Okazaki, Vardy

LEICESTER SUBS: Zieler, Chilwell, Amartey, King, Albrighton, Slimani, Ulloa

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Pickford; Jones, Denayer, Kone, Oviedo; Rodwell, Cattermole, Larsson, Ndong, Borini; Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannon, Djilobodji, Januzaj, Anichebe, Khazri, Manquillo, Gibson

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, it is no surprise to see that Leicester are unchanged from the win over Stoke on Saturday, with much of Craig Shakespeare's success having been built on going back to the basics of what made them such a strong unit last season. Marc Albrighton was the most likely to come back into the side having missed the Stoke win through illness, but he only gets a place on the bench as Gray keeps his starting role.

The main absentee from that Leicester side is captain Wes Morgan, who continues to struggle with a back injury and will also be a doubt for the weekend. Benalouane has deputised for the centre-back so far and keeps his place tonight off the back of a rare clean sheet for the Foxes last time out. He partners Huth, who scored an own goal in the reverse fixture, at the heart of the defence while Simpson and Fuchs operate on either flank.

In midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi starts again having scored a stunning goal to open his Premier League account against Stoke, partnering Danny Drinkwater in the middle of the park. As already mentioned, Demarai Gray gets another chance to impress from the start having admitted that it was frustrated to have been in and out of the team so far this season, while on the opposite wing Riyad Mahrez will once again look to rediscover the type of form that made him so dangerous last season - a campaign that began with him scoring twice at home to Sunderland.

The main Leicester goal threat is likely to come from Jamie Vardy, who has certainly begun to rediscover last season's form. The England international has scored four goals and assisted two more in his last four league games having only managed five goals all season before the departure of Ranieri - three of which came in one game. Vardy has three Premier League goals to his name against the Black Cats too, making them one of his favourite top-flight opponents.

While Vardy's form has been hit and miss throughout the season, Jermain Defoe has generally kept up his reputation of being a goalscorer, finding the back of the net 14 times in a struggling Sunderland side. He scored 15 times last season to fire the Black Cats to safety, but his goals may not be enough to save David Moyes's side this time around and if the club are relegated then the recently-recalled England man can leave on a free transfer. That would be a massive blow to Sunderland as, of the players in the squad at the moment, he has scored 14 of their 20 Premier League goals.

Defoe had been a doubt for this match after missing training on Sunday with a knock, but he has recovered in time to start as Sunderland look to end their six-match goal drought. Defoe has four goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Leicester and has scored five of his goals from the penalty spot - a 21% proportion of the entire team's goals in the league this season. Only Crystal Palace in 2004-05 have had a bigger percentage of their goals come from the penalty spot.

Another notable inclusion from the visitors is Lee Cattermole, who ends a long spell on the sidelines with a hip injury. This is the captain's first start since September and, whether his return comes too late or not, it will still be a boost to a Sunderland side who have been lacking in fight at times this season. He partners Rodwell and Ndong in the middle of the park, the latter of whom is one of only three players in the side other than Defoe to have scored in the Premier League for Sunderland this season.

Fabio Borini and Lamine Kone are the only other players to have found the back of the net for Sunderland from that starting XI, with only one apiece, although there is a return to the bench for Victor Anichebe, who has three goals to his name this season. In all, Moyes has made three changes to the team that was beaten by Watford last time out, with Cattermole, Larsson and Ndong coming in for O'Shea, Kone and Januzaj.

There is plenty of Premier League experience in that Sunderland side, but they have surely left themselves with too much to do this time around and Leicester come into this match as big favourites to win. That may not have been the case a month or so ago, but the difference between Leicester now and then is immeasurable. The decision to sack Claudio Ranieri was greeted with disgust and derision all through the football world but, in truth, you won't find many Leicester fans still complaining about it now.

That is because Craig Shakespeare has taken over and made a dream start to his time as a head coach. The former assistant was already popular with the players and appears to have reunited them and restored them back into the force they were last season. Shakespeare has won his first five matches in charge across all competitions, taking Leicester from inside the relegation zone to six points clear of it in addition to reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

As difficult as it must have been to sack Ranieri, that decision already looks to be vindicated, and the scale of Shakespeare's achievement should not be underestimated. Only Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola - three men regarded as among the greatest managers of all time - have won their opening four Premier League games in charge of a club, and Shakespeare has a chance to make it five in a row today - something only the latter two have managed. It is exulted company and, while time will tell whether he is in fact the real deal or not, it is certainly a promising start.

Leicester had won just five of their opening 25 Premier League games before this recent revival, and the improvement is clear to see in the goalscoring stakes too. The Foxes have scored 11 times during their four-match winning streak - as many as they managed in their final 14 league games under Ranieri, including a run of six goalless games in a row before his sacking. Their scoring record is still well short of what we came to expect last season, but it has shown a marked improvement under Shakespeare.

There are even signs that Leicester's current run may be even better than their title-winning form of last season - albeit obviously over a much shorter period. The Foxes have won their last five home games in all competitions - something they didn't manage at any point last season and their best run since October 2013, when they were in the Championship. That includes three consecutive home wins in the Premier League, and another triumph today would make it four on the bounce in the top flight for the first time since November 1999.

It is their home form which they have relied upon more than anything else so far this season, with no fewer than 27 of their 33 points coming here at the King Power Stadium. They actually have a better home record than the likes of Manchester United this season, whereas away from home only two teams have picked up fewer points. At the King Power they have won eight of their 15 matches, compared to one solitary victory away from home.

Relegation was a major concern for the club towards the end of Ranieri's reign, with the danger of becoming only the second top-flight champions to then be relegated a season later becoming a very real possibility. However, Leicester are now six points clear of the bottom three and only one point off the top half, which goes to show just how quickly things can change in the Premier League. The top eight may be out of reach, but Leicester are now just three points adrift of Stoke in ninth.

Sunderland can only dream of such a drastic change in fortunes right now, with the Black Cats looking increasingly doomed down there at the bottom of the table. Eight points now separate them from safety and throughout all of their recent great escapes they have never been in a position quite as perilous as this one. David Moyes himself has admitted that his side need a miracle to stay up but, with many of the teams they are looking to catch having enjoyed better form of late, it is hard to see any hope for the Black Cats.

A little more than a month ago Sunderland were just two points and two places behind Leicester in the Premier League table, but defeat tonight could leave the, 16 points and 11 places adrift of the Foxes - a huge change which highlights the contrasting form of these two sides. Leicester, and indeed plenty of other struggling teams, have experienced an improvement in results after replacing their manager, but Sunderland have so far kept faith with David Moyes.

Stick by their manager for the final throes of a relegation battle has not exactly been Sunderland club policy in recent years, but it may well be too late to change things around now and they would struggle to get many takers for a job which looks more like rebuilding for the Championship than keeping the Black Cats in the division. The idea of sacking Moyes must have risen, particularly following the emergence of his ill-judged comments to a report earlier this week, but it looks as though the former Man Utd boss could now see out the season.

First on Moyes's list of priorities if he is to pull off a remarkable escape is to get his side scoring again. The problem all season has been their reliance on Jermain Defoe, and while he has gone through a drought recently so have the whole team. They are without a goal in eight hours and 15 minutes, and incidentally Leicester are the only team to have gone on a longer barren spell - in the final six league games of Ranieri's reign.

You have to go back to 1981 for the last time Sunderland failed to score in six consecutive top-flight matches, but considering Leicester's recent improvement and the fact that Sunderland have failed to score in eight of their last nine games in all competitions, and a joint high 14 Premier League games this season, that could well happen this evening. Strangely, this drought has followed their flood of goals during the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in February.

Sunderland's defensive record is not actually as bad as you might expect from a team so far adrift at the bottom of the table but, coupled with their attacking woes, it is still a recipe for defeat. The Black Cats have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games, taking six points from a possible 36 in that time while the teams around them have been stringing wins together. Time is really running out for Moyes, and the manager himself admitted that tonight's game is a must-win for his side.

Unfortunately for Sunderland, they have lost nine of their last 10 away games in all competitions and 11 of 14 in the Premier League this term. Only three teams - including Leicester, incidentally - have a worse record on the road, with Sunderland having amassed just seven points on their travels. The Black Cats have failed to even score in 10 of their last 15 away games in all competitions, while they have kept only one clean sheet in their last 16 in the Premier League.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the King Power Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! It is hard to see anything other than a home win in this match. Sunderland are in poor form and are looking increasingly resigned to their fate, whereas Leicester are absolutely flying at the moment. I will go for a 2-0 win for the champions.

Leicester have never lost a Premier League game at home to Sunderland, winning four and drawing two of their six previous meetings. However, the Black Cats have won two of their last four visits to the King Power Stadium, with both of those coming in the Championship. Their most recent visit came on the opening day of last season, when Leicester gave us a glimpse of things to come by racing into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes on their way to a 4-2 triumph.

Sunderland have only lost two of their last 10 league meetings with Leicester, though, both of which came during the Foxes' title-winning season last term. That 10-game run does stretch back a long time, though, and over the past decade they have only won one of five league games against Leicester, drawing two and losing two.

The reverse fixture in December handed Sunderland one of their five wins so far this season, with a Huth own goal setting them on their way before Defoe scored what proved to be the winner in a 2-1 triumph at the Stadium of Light. A repeat of that tonight would be priceless for Moyes.

Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to get going here at the King Power Stadium!

KICKOFF: Jermain Defoe kicks us off for this huge game. Sunderland surely need a win to keep their survival hopes alive.

CHANCE! An early half-chance for Leicester as Gray speeds down the left flank and pulls a low pass into the middle. Okazaki gets in front of his man and tries to flick it in at the near post, but he just can't get enough on it and it goes wide of the target.

Decent spell of possession for Sunderland as they look to settle themselves into this match. They have already had one or two testers in behind for Vardy to chase, but now are beginning to get themselves on the ball for the first time.

An interesting point of note for this match - Leicester have conceded a league-high 25 goals in the first half this season, so if Sunderland are to break their drought then it is most likely to happen in this opening 45 minutes.

David Moyes will be relatively content with the start his side have made to this match. They have settled into the game now and are knocking the ball about quite comfortably in midfield.

Really good defending from Simpson here as tracks Larsson all the way and gets his head to a deep cross towards the back post, putting it behind for a corner. He gets a big pat on the back from Schmeichel, and rightly so.

Sunderland look to catch Leicester out with a quick free kick, and it is well executed too as Larsson curls a low pass around the defence for Defoe, who scuffs his finish wide. The striker was always in an offside position, though, so it would not have counted anyway.

UPDATE: There has been a goal in one of tonight's other Premier League games, and it is Watford who have taken the lead against West Brom courtesy of a lovely curling strike from Niang.

SAVE! Pickford is called into action for the first time tonight as Mahrez curls a free kick to the back post which Huth gets his head to. He can only loop a header towards goal, but Pickford is backtracking and takes no risks by punching it over the crossbar.

Defoe has his first chance to get in behind the defence, albeit from an impossible angle. He is never likely to score from this position, but he still manages to win a corner from Schmeichel.

Rodwell climbs highest to get his head to the corner, but can't keep his effort down as it flies well over the crossbar.

Still no big chances for either side in this one, and Sunderland will be marginally the happier team right now. They have held their own against the in-form Foxes and are very much involved in this match.

Oviedo cuts a low ball into the box for Defoe, who has just found a yard of space in the area. Huth tracks him well, though, and makes the block when Defoe eventually gets his shot away.

Sunderland have had more of the ball inside the opposition half in this match, including quite a few corners already. They are applying pressure on the Leicester defence, but Schmeichel is yet to be seriously tested.

SHOT! Defoe attempts to do just that with a fierce shot from around 25 yards out, but Schmeichel watches his powerful strike fly a couple of yards wide.

SHOT! This time it is Gray's turn to go for goal from outside the area having cut inside and created space to shoot. He tries to pick out the top corner, but fires his effort high and wide of the target.

The return of Lee Cattermole does seem to have made a difference in this opening half an hour. The skipper just makes Sunderland more solid, which is something they have been missing this season.

Sunderland win another corner and this time Kone loses his marker to get his head to it, but he puts his effort well over the crossbar.

SHOT! Another bright break from the visitors sees Ndong pick up the ball before cutting inside past one defender onto his favoured right foot. He tries to drive one into the bottom corner, but puts it a couple of yards wide.

If Leicester were in any doubt that tonight's match would be a tough one, they won't be any more. The hosts have not got going yet and it is Sunderland who have looked most like scoring, albeit without really testing Schmeichel still.

YELLOW CARD! He may have been gone for a while, but that doesn't mean he has changed. Cattermole picks up the game's first card for an attempted hack on Gray as he tried to stop a counter-attack. He was unsuccessful in stopping the youngster, but Oviedo was back there to make a crucial tackle as the last man.

Oviedo looks to have hurt himself while making that challenge, but he should be fine to continue. Meanwhile, Sunderland have another set piece in a good crossing position...

...Larsson whips it in to a good area with plenty of pace on it, but Huth makes the clearance.

UPDATE: Goals have been few and far between in the Premier League so far tonight, but there has been a notable one at Old Trafford where Phil Jagielka has given Everton the lead against Manchester United!

This hasn't been the best half of football, it must be said. However, David Moyes would have enjoyed it more than most. His side have looked strong against a team in brilliant form and if they can maintain this for the full 90 minutes then they should be able to get something out of the game.

CLOSE! Almost a classic example of the commentator's curse! Pickford pulls off a brilliant stop to keep the scores level as Gray collects a long pass from Mahrez before cutting inside and curling a superb strike towards the far corner. Pickford only gets a fingertip to it, but that is enough to turn it just past the post.

SHOT! Gray looks like the danger man for Leicester tonight. The hosts break quickly and the winger once again picks the ball up on the left before being allowed to cut onto his right. Predictably he goes for the curler into the far corner again, but this time he puts it a little further wide.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at the King Power Stadium, then, and we're still goalless between Leicester and Sunderland. It has not been the best game in all honesty and chances have been very few and far between, but Sunderland will feel that they have been the better team despite Pickford being the busier of the two goalkeepers.

The one real moment of quality in that first half came towards the closing stages of the opening 45 minutes when Gray cut inside from the left flank and curled a goalbound effort towards the far corner that Pickford was at full stretch to tip wide. The Sunderland keeper has also denied a looping header from Huth, but it has been slim pickings in terms of goalmouth action so far.

Sunderland have more than held their own in this one so far, but their wait for a Premier League goal now stands at nine hours and they haven't shown too many signs of ending it. Defoe has drilled one powerful effort wide, but Schmeichel is yet to be seriously tested.

KICKOFF: Leicester get us back underway for the second half at the King Power Stadium - will we see an opener in this second half?

It will be interesting to see how long Moyes waits before introducing Anichebe to this game. Sunderland need wins at the moment, which means taking a few more risks. A point away to the in-form champions would ordinarily be a good result, but it may not be enough in their current position.

It has been a bit of a scrappy start to this first half as both sides try to get their foot on the ball. Neither have really settled since the interval yet.

Craig Shakespeare probably wasn't expecting the toughest test of his managerial career so far to come at home to Sunderland, but that is what this is shaping up to be right now. Sunderland's position and need for a win should play into the hosts' hands more and more as the match goes on, though.

SAVE! Routine save for Schmeichel to make as Larsson drills a low strike towards goal from around 25 yards. It is worth a go, but it is straight at the keeper and he easily scoops it up.

Sunderland win the ball back in a good position and Defoe wins a free kick in a very good shooting position. A rare chance to test Schmeichel for Larsson here...

There is plenty of anticipation around the ground as Larsson takes his time in lining the free kick up, only to then fire it a long, long way off target. Terrible effort.

SAVE! Sunderland have another chance to get the ball into the box from a set piece, but Larsson's delivery is not great. Drinkwater can only clear it as far as Defoe, though, and the striker does well to take it down and get an effort on target. It is straight at Schmeichel, though, and the keeper makes another routine stop.

UPDATE: There have been a couple of goals elsewhere in the Premier League to notify you of - Watford have doubled their lead against West Brom through Deeney, while Burnley have broken the deadlock against Stoke courtesy of a Boyd strike.

LEICESTER SUBS: Shakespeare makes his first move in an attempt to find a breakthrough as Islam Slimani and Marc Albrighton come on in place of Okazaki and Gray.

CHANCE! Fuchs is such a threat with that long throw of his, and that almost brings about the opening goal here. His delivery is well met by Huth, but Pickford gets down well to keep his glancing header out.

This is still anyone's game with 25 minutes remaining, which not many would have been expecting considering the form of these two teams. Sunderland deserve credit for their performance, but once again they haven't done enough in the final third.

Moyes looks like he may be about to try to change that. Victor Anichebe is warming up on the sidelines and his introduction could be imminent.

Leicester finally have the breakthrough as the two subs combine! Albrighton goes down the left flank before cutting onto his right and swinging a trademark cross in towards the back post. Slimani holds off Kone to get his head to the ball, glancing it into the corner past a helpless Pickford. Huge blow for Sunderland.

Leicester are the only team in the Premier League to have won every match in which they have scored first this season. Surely Sunderland have no choice but to throw caution to the wind now?

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Moyes makes his move with a double change as Victor Anichebe and Wahbi Khazri come on in place of Cattermole and Larsson.

Concern for Leicester as Mahrez goes down after a fairly innocuous challenge, which can often be the worst ones. He receives treatment, but looks like he should be fine to continue.

SAVE! Albrighton and Slimani combine again, but this time the latter can't steer his header anywhere near the target. Leicester are back on the front foot immediately, though, and Vardy forces a save from Pickford at the near post.

OFF THE POST! When it rains it pours for Sunderland. The ball just will not go in for them. A small goalmouth scramble sees the ball drop to Anichebe on the edge of the box, and his effort takes a deflection before hitting the woodwork. It bounces back out to Defoe, but he can only slam the rebound into the side-netting.

...and that is how quickly a game can change. Less than 70 seconds after hitting the post at one end, Sunderland see their chances this evening - and most probably this season - ended as Leicester double their lead. Albrighton is the creator again, beating Jones to the ball and storming down the left flank before playing a low ball in for Vardy to lash into the roof of the net. Emphatic finish.

SUNDERLAND SUB: The visitors make their third and final change in the aftermath of that goal as Darron Gibson replaces Rodwell.

LEICESTER SUB: Leicester also make their final change as Andy King replaces Ndidi.

Ndong tries to get Sunderland back into the match in spectacular fashion, but blasts a 35-yard strike well over.

SAVE! King cuts inside from the left flank and it all suddenly opens up for him, but he tries to pass his finish into the bottom corner and puts it too close to Pickford, who makes a routine save.

SAVE! Good play from Mahrez as he twists and turns past Oviedo inside the box to create space to shoot on his left, but his shot is well saved by Pickford and Vardy can't turn the rebound home.

SAVE! Defoe has not had much to feed off tonight but he tries his luck here, seeing a powerful deflected effort well saved by Schmeichel.

SHOT! Albrighton has made a real difference since coming on with two assists, but he tries to get his own name on the scoresheet here with a low strike that goes a couple of yards wide.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.

Another game, another defeat for Sunderland as Leicester turn it on in the final 20 minutes to pick up a sixth consecutive win in all competitions. The Craig Shakespeare revolution continues at the King Power Stadium as the Foxes climb into the top half of the table courtesy of goals from Slimani and Vardy, whereas Sunderland remain rooted to the bottom and eight points from safety. Things are looking bleak for the Black Cats.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Premier League clash as Leicester City hammer another nail into Sunderland's coffin with a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!