Leicester vs Bournemouth Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 English Premier League
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Winless Leicester City have perhaps performed better than was expected, despite unhappiness within their fanbase, as they now take on AFC Bournemouth at the King Power Stadium this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 5th October, 2024 - 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
LEICESTER PREVIEW: FOXES IN FEAR
At the start of this season, Leicester City had such a depleted and generally weaker squad that it appeared likely they would be destined for a relegation battle and to struggle throughout the campaign. The Foxes have begun the season without a win in their opening six matches but have shown they can be competitive.
Last weekend, they suffered a 4-2 defeat to likely title challenging Arsenal in a game in which the Gunners scored two goals in second-half stoppage-time to take all three points. They have been underwhelming in attack but found ways to score goals in every game they have played this season bar their penalty shootout victory against Walsall.
BOURNEMOUTH PREVIEW: BOUNCING BOURNEMOUTH
Coached by former Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola, AFC Bournemouth have started the 2024/25 Premier League season with two victories, two draws and two defeats in their opening six matches. The Cherries play quite an intense pressing style of football akin to that of what Iraola implemented at Rayo.
Their two defeats have come against tough opposition in Chelsea and Liverpool and they come into this one on the back of a 3-1 victory against Southampton at the Vitality Stadium in which they were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo.
LEICESTER TEAM NEWS: STILL NO DAKA
Both Jakub Stolarczyk and Patson Daka have been unavailable throughout the season and they both remain sidelined with the Zambian international forward a bit of a major blow to the depth of Cooper’s attack.
The Foxes are also now set to be without midfielder Hamza Choudhury for a ‘little while’ and Cooper has also said that they will assess a few other ‘knocks’ that have been picked up but Jannik Vestergaard has returned to training.
PREDICTED XI (X-X-X-X): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Skipp, Winks; Buonanotte, Ndidi, Mavididi; Vardy
UNAVAILABLE: Stolarczyk (Injured), Choudhury (Injured), Daka (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS: STILL NO ADAMS
Andoni Iraola has been dealing with the absence of United States international Tyler Adams pretty much throughout the last year and he remains sidelined but is apparently 'almost there'.
Aside from the former Leeds United midfielder, there are no other injury concerns or suspension issues so they are expected to name an unchanged eleven for this one against Leicester.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson
UNAVAILABLE: Adams (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LEICESTER VS BOURNEMOUTH PREDICTION
Steve Cooper is perhaps under pressure already with some elements of the Leicester fanbase and the performance in the aforementioned goalless draw against Walsall did not go down well with many. They face a Bournemouth side that have an abundance of talent and creativity in the final third with the Cherries the favourites for this one, albeit with Leicester’s ability to score goals it could be quite a fun watch for the neutral, despite their natural style of football so far this season.
LEICESTER VS BOURNEMOUTH TIP: BOURNEMOUTH TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
