Leicester City continue their quest for a first Premier League win of the 2024/25 season this weekend when they host Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium.
Steve Cooper is already under enormous pressure in the Leicester dugout as performances and results are underwhelming. The Foxes were minutes away from a stunning strike and catch at Arsenal last weekend as they came from two goals down thanks to a brace from James Justin, but late heartbreak means they remain 17th in the table after six games.
Bournemouth have not made a flawless start to the campaign, but have a symmetrical record of winning two, drawing two and losing two in their opening games. Their 3-1 win over Southampton last Monday has propelled them up the table and into 11th place, with record summer signing Evanilson opening his account against the Saints.
here it is 90 minutes guide to an intriguing clash in the East Midlands.
Leicester vs Bournemouth H2H record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Leicester |
Bournemouth |
|---|---|
|
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester – 28/09/24 |
Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton – 30/09/24 |
|
Walsall 0-0 (0-3p) Leicester – 24/09/24 |
Liverpool 3-0 Bournemouth – 21/09/24 |
|
Leicester 1-1 Everton – 21/09/24 |
Bournemouth – Chelsea 0-1 – 14/09/24 |
|
Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester – 14/09/24 |
Everton 2-3 Bournemouth – 31/08/24 |
|
Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa – 31/08/24 |
West Ham 1-0 Bournemouth – 28/08/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
N/A |
|
united states |
peacock |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 6 Canada |
Cooper is guaranteed to be without Patson Daka, Hamza Choudhury and Jakub Stolarczyk for Saturday’s affair, while Jannik Vestergaard remains a doubt as he recovers from injury.
Jamie Vardy will continue to lead the line for Leicester and will be joined in the final third by Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte. Summer signing Bilal El Khanous could play in the number 10 position behind the 37-year-old.
Caleb Okoli is likely to continue in the back four alongside Wout Faes, while Justin earned another start with a brace last weekend. Wilfred Ndidi may drop further into midfield, with Oliver Skipp perhaps moving to the bench.
Leicester’s expected line-up against Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Christiansen; Wink, Ndidi; Good night, El Khanous, Mavididi; Vardy.
Tyler Adams is the only absentee from Andoni Iraola who brings a strong squad to the King Power. Not much is likely to change from the win over Southampton.
After scoring his first Cherries goal in the win against Saints, Evanilson will be desperate to capitalize on his tally against a shaky defence. Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo are also in fantastic form in the forward line.
Julian Araujo could return at right-back in place of Adam Smith, while Justin Kluivert will compete with goalscorer Dango Ouattara on Monday night for a starting spot.
Predicted line-up Bournemouth v Leicester (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evansilson.
LeicesterThe wait for a Premier League win may continue after this weekend, with a tricky home clash against Bournemouth perhaps another nail in Cooper’s coffin.
The Foxes are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded one Bournemouth side who have scored six in their last two encounters with bottom-half Premier League sides. After Monday’s win, their forwards will be in a confident mood.
However, the biggest problem for Leicester remains in the final third. They managed two goals from an expected goals total of just 0.21 last weekend, figures that are hardly sustainable, and have often been frustrating to create attacks. Here they can draw a blank space.
