Aston Villa welcome Leicester City to Villa Park in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, as the tie remains finely poised at 1-1 after drawing in the first leg.
Villa know that a win will take them back to Wembley for a third consecutive season – albeit in two different competitions, whilst Leicester are looking to progress to the Final for the first time since 2000 which they won.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAston Villa have no fresh injury concerns as Keinan Davis draws closer to a return from a thigh injury, although he is ruled out of this match.
Jed Steer (Achilles), Tom Heaton, Wesley (both knee) and John McGinn (ankle) remain sidelined.
Leicester could have Jamie Vardy available after he missed their FA Cup win at Brentford on Saturday with a glute injury.
Nampalys Mendy (knee), Matty James (fitness) and Daniel Amartey (ankle) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have lost just one of four previous home League Cup meetings against Leicester (W2, D1, L1).
- Just one of Kelechi Iheanacho’s three League Cup goals for Leicester this season came in the first half, scoring in the seventh minute against Burton in Fourth Round.
- Villa have scored first in every League Cup game this season, despite keeping only one clean sheet in this competition this season.
Prediction
Leicester were exceptional on Saturday against Brentford all over the pitch so I would like to see them continue that performance here, especially with Ben Chilwell and James Maddison amongst those set to return to the starting eleven.
Villa however have had a week to prepare for this game and manager, Dean Smith was at the Leicester game on Saturday which could influence how he sets his team up tactically because the counter-attack might suit Villa best here.
I therefore am expecting another entertaining battle but Leicester need to be more clinical with their shots on goal, otherwise this could very well go to penalties but I do think that the Foxes will get the job done if they deliver an attacking performance.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester City
Result: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City (Aston Villa win 3-2 on aggregate)