Struggling Leicester City welcome Aston Villa to the King Power Stadium in a Midlands derby.
Victory would lift Leicester out of the relegation zone, whilst Villa can go sixth if Brighton lose elsewhere.
Team News
Dennis Praet could return for Leicester after he missed their defeat at Crystal Palace with a dead leg.
Jonny Evans (hamstring) is a doubt but Ryan Bertrand (knee), Jannik Vestergaard (personal), Youri Tielemans (ankle) and James Justin (Achilles) remain absent.
Aston Villa have no fresh injury concerns after Saturday’s win at Chelsea, as Matty Cash (muscle), Philip Coutinho (muscle) and Jed Steer (Achilles)
Stat Attack
- Leicester are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against Aston Villa (W2, D1, L2).
- Aston Villa have won just one of their last five league visits to Leicester (W1, D1, L3).
- Leicester have never been held to two consecutive goalless draws at home to Villa in all competitions.
- Leicester are looking to avoid going seven league matches without a win for the first time since their opening seven games of this season.
- Villa have conceded just one goal in their last five matches (W4, D1), which came in a 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Prediction
Having sacked Brendan Rogers following a flat loss at Crystal Palace in which they lacked much attacking quality except for a brilliant opener, Leicester now need to reset but they can take heart from their robust defending which frustrated Palace throughout.
Goalkeeper, Daniel Iversen meanwhile was unlucky to concede an unavoidable own goal otherwise the Foxes could of snatched a draw, but I would like to see them show more of their previous exciting attacking intensity which has been absent a lot this season.
Villa meanwhile know that a late charge for an Europa League spot is possible and after Saturday’s clinical display at Chelsea with excellent finishing and saves, Unai Emery’s Villains really need to kick on if want to take momentum into a decisive run of fixtures.
Leicester though will get the psychological bounce of a fresh start following Rogers’ departure so I do expect this game to be competitive, but if Villa can deliver another all-round performance, they should have enough to break down the Foxes’ leaky defence.
Prediction: Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa
Result: Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa
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