Aston Villa vs Leicester preview, predictions & confirmed team news
Leicester City travel to Aston Villa on Sunday aiming to make it eight wins on the bounce in the Premier League.
The 2015/16 champions have been irresistible in recent weeks, easing past some opponents and relying on late winners against others.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7442672
Meanwhile, Aston Villa continue to be hit-and-miss, though they were relatively unfortunate to come away from Stamford Bridge with nothing in midweek.
So, what will happen when Villa and Leicester face off this weekend? Read on for our preview, prediction, team news, TV coverage information and more.
When is Aston Villa vs Leicester and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Villa Park
Date: Sunday, 8 December 2019
Kick-off: 2:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
Last five meetings: Aston Villa vs Leicester
16 January 2016: Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester (Premier League)
13 September 2015: Leicester 3-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
15 February 2015: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester (FA Cup)
10 January 2015: Leicester 1-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
7 December 2014: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Aston Villa (DLWLW) 7-7 Leicester (DWLWL)
Ones to watch
Aston Villa: John McGinn
If Villa are to get anything from this one, they will need their excellent all-rounder John McGinn to put in a good performance in midfield. It’s not often he has an off-day, so the hosts may well be smiling come 4pm on Sunday afternoon. McGinn has contributed in all areas of the pitch for Villa since their return to the Premier League, and he will be keen for that to continue against Leicester.
Key stat: No Aston Villa player has registered more shots on target than John McGinn in the Premier League this season (15).
Leicester: Jamie Vardy
Vardy’s incredible form has been central to Leicester’s run of seven consecutive Premier League victories. The 32-year-old continues to resemble a much younger player; he hasn’t lost any of his pace or sharpness and currently leads the Golden Boot race with 14 goals, three more than any other player in the division going into the weekend. Will Villa be his latest victims?
Key stat: Vardy has scored in each of his last seven league appearances, bagging a total of nine goals in that time.
Team news
Aston Villa
Frederic Guilbert is back in contention after serving a suspension against Chelsea. Villa will also hope to have Anwar El Ghazi back from injury, but Jed Steer and Keinan Davis are still out.
Confirmed XI: Heaton; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Nakamba; El Ghazi, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish; Wesley.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Leicester
Demarai Gray is Leicester’s only injury doubt. Other than that, Brendan Rodgers has a fully fit squad to pick from as Ben Chilwell has recovered from the knock that forced him to miss the Watford game.
Confirmed XI: Schmeichel; R Pereira, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell; Ndidi; Praet, Tielemans, Maddison, Iheanacho; Vardy.
Squawka prediction
Leicester have been superb of late, but their run of wins will surely come to an end eventually. A tricky visit to Villa Park may be the sort of game that trips them up. It’s easy to envisage both teams finding the net, though it could end up being a tight, low-scoring affair.
Scoreline prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester
