Jan 2, 2017 at 12.30pm UK at ​Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 32,437
Middlesbrough
0-0
LeicesterLeicester City

Ramirez (26'), Gibson (43'), Clayton (92')
FT

Team News: Middlesbrough recall Gaston Ramirez, Islam Slimani misses out for Leicester City

Gaston Ramirez in action for Middlesbrough on October 29, 2016
© SilverHub
Gaston Ramirez is recalled to Middlesbrough's starting lineup, while Islam Slimani misses out for Leicester City due to illness for this afternoon's kickoff.

Gaston Ramirez has been recalled to Middlesbrough's starting lineup for this afternoon's clash against Leicester City, while Islam Slimani misses out for the champions due to a fever.

Aitor Karanka has made five changes to the team that were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United on New Years Eve, with Ramirez coming back into the fold.

Antonio Barragan returns to the defence after serving a one-match suspension, while Fabio and Adam Clayton are handed starting spots at the Riverside.

George Friend, Stewart Downing, Bernardo Espinosa and Grant Leadbitter all drop to the bench, while goalkeeper Victor Valdes is replaced by Brad Guzan after failing to recover from a knock that he suffered against United.

Meanwhile, Leicester will be without Slimani, who will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations this week along with Riyad Mahrez, while Danny Drinkwater has not been risked by manager Claudio Ranieri due to a recent back injury.

In total, the Foxes boss has made five changes to the team that sealed a 1-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday, with Demarai Gray, Marc Albrighton and Ben Chilwell dropping to the bench.

Christian Fuchs, Andy King, Nampalys Mendy, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa all come into the starting XI, while Jamie Vardy misses out completely as he serves the remainder of a three-match ban.

Middlesbrough: Guzan; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton, De Roon; Forshaw, Traore, Ramirez; Negredo
Subs: Dimi, Friend, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Stuani, Downing, Rhodes

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; King, Amartey, Mendy, Mahrez; Okazaki, Ulloa
Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, Musa, Wasilewski, Gray, Hernandez, Albrighton

Follow Sports Mole's live text commentary of the match here.

Kasper Schmeichel celebrates at the end of the Premier League game between Watford and Leicester City on March 5, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea20161342152749
2Liverpool20135248232544
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs20126239142542
4Manchester CityMan City20133441221942
5Arsenal20125344222241
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd20116331191239
7Everton208662823530
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom208572824429
9Bournemouth207492934-525
10Southampton206681925-624
11Stoke CityStoke206682432-824
12Burnley2072112231-923
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2064102335-1222
14Watford2064102336-1322
15Leicester CityLeicester205692431-721
16Middlesbrough204791722-519
17Crystal Palace2044123037-716
18Sunderland2043131937-1815
19Swansea CitySwansea2043132345-2215
20Hull City2034131744-2713
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