Ahead of Saturday’s clash, we have the Aston Villa vs Leicester preview, prediction, latest team news and confirmed lineups.
Aston Villa Vs Leicester Preview
After finishing 2024 with a 2-2 draw against Brighton on December 30, Aston Villa will be looking to start the new year with a victory over their Midlands rivals.
England internationals Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers netted against the Seagulls as Villa made it ten consecutive Premier League games unbeaten on home soil.
Arsenal are the only side who have come away from Villa Park with all three points this season. Unai Emery’s side will be confident of continuing their run in 2025 against their struggling visitors.
Going into gameweek 20, Villa are perched in ninth position and remain six points off the UEFA Champions League spots.
Last time out against Saturday’s opponents, goals from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran helped clinch a 2-1 win at the King Power in August.
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ gets underway at Villa Park on Saturday 🙌 pic.twitter.com/k6sk9UtxcA
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 1, 2025
Since beating West Ham 3-1 in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge, Leicester have endured a torrid run of form over the festive period.
The Foxes haven’t won in five and have lost their last four games in a row. Most recently, Van Nistelrooy’s men were comfortably beaten 2-0 by faltering champions Manchester City.
Prior to that, the Dutchman oversaw hefty defeats to Liverpool and Newcastle. More alarmingly, a 3-0 defeat to Wolves showcased just how much work their is to do in the East Midlands.
Going into Saturday’s clash, Leicester sit in 19th position. However, they are just two points away from safety and a win at Villa Park with give the club a major boost.
According to the best football betting sites in the UK, the Foxes are 9/1 to clinch all three points. Aston Villa are 7/20 with the draw available at 9/2.
Aston Villa Vs Leicester Team News
Star players Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers are both suspended for Aston Villa. Duran is still feeling the wrath of his stamp on Newcastle’s Fabian Schar on Boxing Day.
Rogers picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Brighton on Monday night. The England man will be available for selection against West Ham in the FA Cup.
Pau Torres will also miss out after picking up a foot injury against the Seagulls last time out. Tyrone Mings will fill the void.
Meanwhile, Leicester will still be without goalkeeper Mads Hermansen owing to a groin problem. Jakub Stolarczyk is once again relied upon.
The Foxes will also be without the injured trio of Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu. Doubts also remain over Wout Faes but the Foxes remain confident he’ll be fit to start.
Forward Jordan Ayew is back in the starting XI. He missed the Manchester City game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
From the East Midlands to the West on Saturday 🛣️#AVLLEI pic.twitter.com/YYq0VGxdDo
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 2, 2025
Aston Villa Vs Leicester Confirmed Lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Tielemans, Kamara, Barkley, McGinn, Bailey, Watkins
Leicester: Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Thomas, Winks, Soumare, El Khannouss, Mavididi, Ayew, Vardy
Aston Villa Vs Leicester Prediction
Having tasted defeat just once on home soil this season, Aston Villa will be confident of picking up all three points against Leicester on Saturday.
The Foxes have endured a miserable run in recent games and Villa will likely be too hot to handle. Even without Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers.
Therefore, we are predicting the home side to win to nil. Adding to the Foxes woes in the process.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-0 Leicester
