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Having won 2-1 at Villa Park in December, Aston Villa have the opportunity to do the league double over Leicester for the first time since 2003/04. Both teams have scored in nine of their last ten meetings, with these matches witnessing 31 goals.
Both teams to score is 8/13.
Kelechi Ịheanachọ has scored six goals in nine appearances against Aston Villa, the most he’s netted against anyone. He is 13/2 to break the deadlock and 2/1 to score anytime.
Ollie Watkins is also 13/2 to score first and 2/1 to net anytime.
Match preview
It’s an all-Midlands affair as two sides going in opposite directions converge on Filbert Way.
Aston Villa were last in action a fortnight ago when, despite dominating for long periods, they were eventually hammered 4-0 by Tottenham.
Earlier this season, in October/November time, the Claret and Blue Army lost five successive matches and Dean Smith was sacked as a result
They last endured two 5+ losing streaks in the same season back in 2015/16 when they were relegated with just 17 points.
This latest run has seen Aston Villa slip from ninth all the way down to 15th, just eight points clear of the bottom three at kick off.
While they’re not in any serious danger of relegation, Gerrard will be desperate for his side to get back to winning ways.
Leicester City meanwhile have started to find form of late and still have so much to play for with just four weeks of the season to go.
On Wednesday night, despite taking the lead through Harvey Barnes, the Foxes could only draw 1-1 with Everton at Goodison.
The Toffees equalised deep into stoppage time, making it the fourth league game since January in which Leicester have conceded an outcome changing goal in add-on time.
If none of those had gone in, the Foxes would have eight extra points.
In reality, Brendan Rodgers’ side are ninth, 11 points below the European places, but still very much involved in UEFA competition this season.
This forthcoming Thursday, the Foxes will host AS Roma in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final.
With the winners of that tournament getting into next season’s Europa League, that’s, without doubt, Leicester’s only possible route back into Europe.
Before then, they’ll be looking to win a fourth consecutive home league match, last achieving that in 2019, as their momentum continues to build.
Who will win this derby of sorts at the King Power?
Leicester City team news
Around their quarter-final tie with PSV Eindhoven, Brendan Rodgers was rotating heavily to ensure his key players are fresh for the European campaign.
So, don’t be surprised if he does something similar here with Roma in mind.
This is most evident at centre-back where Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana are first-choice, while Çağlar Söyüncü and Daniel Amartey step in when needed.
Nampalys Mendy will almost certainly start in midfield as he’s not actually in the UEFA squad.
Defensive midfield is the problem area in general with Wilfred Ndidi out for the rest of the season and Boubakary Soumaré also injured.
Academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has seized his chance to shine, starting the last 17 Premier League matches in a row.
Up front, Jamie Vardy isn’t fit back yet so one of Kelechi Ịheanachọ or Patson Daka will lead the line.
Harvey Barnes has scored four times against Aston Villa, more than against anyone else, so will be hoping to add to that tally.
Aston Villa team news
Steven Gerrard will be hoping for better from his side who are back in action after a mini-hiatus.
Lucas Digne could be out for the rest of the season, after sustaining a shoulder injury against Spurs, so Ashley Young will deputise at left-back.
Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn will continue as the deeper midfield trio, behind Philippe Coutinho in this 4-3-1-2 shape.
Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins lined-up together against Tottenham but it’s widely accepted that they struggle to play together.
So, Leon Bailey, Emi Buendía or Bertrand Traoré could come in with Ings the more likely to be left out.
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