On the back of contrasting results at the weekend, Leicester City and Aston Villa take to the King Power turf for Tuesday’s Premier League contest. The Foxes were undone by a dramatic last-minute strike in a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Unai Emery’s men continued their hot streak by beating Chelsea 2-0.
Team News:
Both of Harry Souttar and Victor Kristiansen overcame ankle concerns to start at Selhurst Park on Saturday, but Rodgers had to make do without Dennis Praet (dead leg) and Jonny Evans (thigh) despite initial optimism over their respective fitness levels.
However, Evans has returned to team training and could force his way back into contention alongside Praet, but Youri Tielemans (ankle), James Justin (knee) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) remain out alongside Jannik Vestergaard, who has been ostracised from the squad after questioning his lack of playing time under Rodgers.
Pereria’s thunderbolt off the bench will benefit the Portuguese’s chances of a recall tenfold, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Daniel Amartey could also freshen up the team, with Rodgers perhaps taking a careful approach with Souttar given his recent layoff.
Speaking of ankle injuries, Boubacar Kamara made a quicker-than-expected return from such a problem at Stamford Bridge, although he was hooked on the 45-minute mark – most likely a consequence of picking up a fourth-minute yellow card as well as managing his load.
Matty Cash and Jed Steer remain out of contention with calf injuries, while Philippe Coutinho is also a few weeks away from coming back from a thigh problem, but Emery has no other concerns to factor in for the trip to the King Power and should see no need to alter a winning formula.
Watkins’s sublime lob against Chelsea saw the Englishman become the first player in Aston Villa’s history to score in five successive Premier League away games, and the 27-year-old will lead the line with uncurbed confidence.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Pereira, Amartey, Faes, Castagne; Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall; Tete, Maddison, Barnes; Iheanacho
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Ramsey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Buendia, Watkinsnez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Ramsey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Buendia, Watkins
Prediction: Leicester City 1-3 Aston Villa
Conceding shot after shot to a hitherto goal-shy Palace side well and truly highlights the magnitude of Leicester’s defensive problems, which should be exposed and then some by a Villa side who just cannot stop scoring under Emery.
Jellied legs may come into play for both sets of players, and a side more clinical than Chelsea would have no doubt breached the Lions’ backline, but we cannot envisage anything other than another stellar success on the road for Aston Villa, who ought to glean a measure of revenge for their defeat to the Foxes in February.
