Aston Villa vs Leicester Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have something of a derby taking place at Villa Park as Unai Emery’s inconsistent Aston Villa welcome Ruud van Nistelrooy’s struggling and seemingly doomed Leicester City this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 4th January, 2025: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Peacock
Aston Villa Preview: Wobbling Villains
Aston Villa come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at Villa Park last weekend. Simon Adingra gave the Seagulls the lead in that game before Villa turned the game on its head but a late Tariq Lamptey strike meant the spoils were shared.
Villa have been left frustrated by their inconsistency of late as they still try to push themselves into the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots. They have suffered just two defeats in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Leicester Preview: Fallen Foxes
Leicester City enjoyed a short lived ‘new manager bounce’ following the appointment of former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with four points from their opening two matches but the Foxes have since majorly drifted and now appear destined to return to the second-tier.
Leicester come into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City at the King Power Stadium in their most recent outing last weekend. That means the Foxes have now suffered four successive defeats with pressure already growing on Van Nistelrooy.
Aston Villa Team News: Torres injury
Unai Emery has confirmed that key centre-back Pau Torres has suffered a broken metatarsal so he will be sidelined for a couple of months. Morgan Rogers joins Jhon Duran in being suspended, too, whilst Diego Carlos and potentially departing Jaden Philogene are also out injured.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, McGinn, Ramsey; Watkins
Unavailable: Carlos (Injured), Torres (Injured), Rogers (Suspended), Philogene (Injured), Duran (Injured)
Questionable:
Leicester Team News: Stolarczyk to stay in net
It has been confirmed that goalkeeper Mads Hermansen will be out for a couple of weeks yet so Jakub Stolarczyk is expected to remain in net ahead of Danny Ward. Jordan Ayew has returned from suspension and Wout Faes is edging towards being back available, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy
Unavailable: Hermansen (Injured), Pereira (Injured), Ndidi (Injured), Fatawu (Injured), McAteer (Injured)
Questionable: Faes (Fitness)
Aston Villa vs Leicester Prediction
Aston Villa have lacked a bit of control in recent months with Unai Emery’s usually meticulous and detailed, specific style of football not yet finding a way to get winning successive matches once again. They now face a Leicester side that have joined Wolves on 42 goals conceded so far this season to mean they now have the joint worst defensive record in the league and, despite their lack of control, a comfortable Villa win, especially in Birmingham, is expected for this one.
Aston Villa vs Leicester Tip: Aston Villa to win -1 handicap
