Leicester v Bournemouth Preview – By Simon Mack!

Leicester City vs Bournemouth

Saturday 31^st August 2019 15:00

King Power Stadium

The foxes return home from their travels this weekend with a Premier League tie at home to Bournemouth.

The cherries secured the only win of their premier league campaign to date on the road at newly promoted Aston Villa where forwards Joshua King and Harry Wilson bagged the goals.

Most recently in the league Manchester City came south and the cherries suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the champions, but Wilson netted again, and the 22 year old loanee from Liverpool has impressed in his first 2 starts.

Despite Callum Wilson’s lack of goals to date this season the Bournemouth striker was included in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad, and having bagged 14 last term he will be keen to get off the mark and prove to Southgate his potential for the coming round of international matches.

It took a penalty shoot out to separate the sides midweek when Bournemouth hosted League 2 outfit Forest Green Rovers in the Carabao Cup. Full time ended goalless, and the cherries will be hoping for more potency from their side as they travel up to the midlands to face the foxes.

Cherries defender Charlie Daniels is set to miss this one having suffered a knee injury against Manchester City last weekend. Lewis Cook, Dan Gosling, David Brooks, Simon Francis and Junior Stanislas are all on going doubts too leaving Bournemouth’s talented young coach Eddie Howe with limited options coming into the weekend.

For Leicester this tie comes on the back of a long trip north midweek and a Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United. Boss Brendan Rodger surprised many naming an almost unchanged side from the one that beat Sheffield Utd on the road last weekend. Unlike his predecessor in the city hot seat Rodger’s serious intentions in cup competition were made clear, and a 1-1 full time draw lead to a penalty shootout where foxes captain keeper Kasper Schmeichel made 2 superb saves to play a key role in seeing city into a 3^rd round tie away to Luton Town.

Leicester remain unbeaten this season to date and sit 4^th in the Premier League but the fans are still both sides of the fence about performances so far. It’s becoming clearer that gaffer Rodgers has a specific philosophy that he is keen to continue to deploy at Leicester, and to date it has provided some high quality football. Some of the foxes faithful are still unsure about several ‘what ifs’ such as any potential injury to Jamie Vardy and what Rodgers would do if the worst became a reality.

More positively Rodgers perfect timing in injecting Harvey Barnes into the 2^nd half mix up in South Yorkshire last week gave word that he is not afraid to be bold and ‘shake the tree’ in the desire for points if he sees fit, and Barnes started against the Magpies in the cup midweek to boot, and his recent form may have Rodgers rubbing his chin over a team sheet that may include the talented young winger this time round.

The foxes side seems settled of late, but there are 2 regular starters that are very close to fitness, and full back Ben Chilwell may take the left back birth back from Christian Fuchs this time out if passed fit to play. Wilfred Ndidi has also sat out a couple with a minor injury, and with his full fitness not far away either Rodgers may well shuffle the pack to include the talented Nigerian ball winner.

Hamza Choudhury put in a majestic shift in place of the injured Ndidi last weekend against the blades and that will be another tough call for Rodgers, and he must be delighted that he has a wealth of quality players all vying for spots and in form and performing well for his city side. Most likely if Nididi is declared fit and available both he and Choudhury will feature and it will be summer signing Dennis Praet that will sit this one out on the city bench.

The pundits and bookies largely have the foxes as the favourite for this one, and with Bournemouth’s injury list and City’s recent adaptable displays complete with flashes of brilliance most would favour a home win this weekend.

The only elephant in the room is just how visiting sides turn up to play at King Power Stadium. If Eddie Howe has studied the goalless draw at home to Wolves he will know that if you can stifle the foxes talented and creative midfield players it can be effective, but this city side are sharpening their pencil with each match they play, and even parking the bus may become a gesture in vain at preventing this talented Leicester City side from sketching out a masterpiece.

 Leicester City possible lineup: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Tielemans, Choudhury, Ndidi; Maddison, Vardy, Perez

Bournemouth possible lineup: Ramsdale; Smith, S. Cook, Ake, Rico; Billing, Lerma; H Wilson, King, Fraser; C Wilson