- Date and Time: 05.10.2024, 15:00 GMT+1
- Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England
Leicester City vs AFC Bournemouth Preview
Leicester City
Leicester City’s promotion into the Premier League has been a challenging transition, , but it’s important to remember the excitement that came with their promotion.
While the Foxes haven’t secured a victory in the Premier League this season, they are gaining valuable experience at the top level, which will help them grow stronger as the campaign progresses.
Although manager Steve Cooper might start to feel some pressure, he is undoubtedly working hard to find the right balance for his team. Their previous game against Arsenal, in which they lost 2-4, showcased some moments of promise that can be built upon moving forward.
Steve Cooper speaks on our opponents in #LEIBOU tomorrow 🎥
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 4, 2024
However, Leicester struggled to come to terms with the pace that Mikel Arteta’s men displayed, the Foxes wilted under pressure, and they conceded goals from situations they would have handled better in the past.
This game against Bournemouth comes at the right time for Leicester. Having only tasted victory once this season in the League Cup against Tranmere Rovers, Leicester will be hungry to get their first three points on the board.
AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth, who did well to finish in the 12th spot in the Premier League last season, come into this game on the back of a confidence-boosting win over newly-promoted Southampton on Monday.
While manager Andoni Iraola’s tactics may not have universally won over fans at the Vitality Stadium, his effectiveness in unleashing their fullbacks and creating wide pockets of space has been lauded.
We’ll be in our away kit for #LEIBOU at the weekend 💜 pic.twitter.com/nEKrchcRNY
— AFCB Superstore (@afcb_superstore) October 3, 2024
The arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea has also given them a legs-up defensively and allowed them to hold their shape with a lot more confidence.
This game against Leicester will see the Cherries exploiting every inch of space available on the pitch, with their midfielders even shifting shape with their attackers in order to create confusion.
Their record away from home this season received a fillip with a 3-2 win over Everton back in August, and Iraola will hope that they are able to counter the Leicester challenge just as comfortably.
Bet hereLeicester City vs AFC Bournemouth Prediction
- Prediction: Both teams to score
- Odds: 1.65 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Leicester City 1-2 AFC Bournemouth
While Bournemouth have begun the season in a somewhat aggressive fashion, a lot is to be desired from the approach that Leicester City have shown. The Foxes have erred far too much inside their own box, allowing their opponents free shots on goal on a lot of occasions.
They will want to tighten their man-marking system against Bournemouth if they wish to keep a clean sheet. Steve Cooper will have to make do without star centre-back Jannik Vestergaard, who is ruled out with an injury, and this will severely hamstring his team’s chances in this game.
Strictly speaking, we had to keep this award to those on the pitch.
So @antoinesemenyo1 gets it 😂 https://t.co/muiHr15h8N pic.twitter.com/HH2AsZtZvZ
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 3, 2024
Bournemouth will miss out on the services of central midfielder Tyler Adams, who is known to dictate their style of play as well as its ebbs and flows. With both teams known for making mistakes in their defensive areas, attackers are expected to find themselves in acres of space.
It will be up to them to create chances and then convert them into goals to help their respective sides. Bournemouth have a slight advantage over Leicester in this game, while both are expected to get on the scoresheet.
Leicester City vs AFC Bournemouth Prediction, Betting Tip
- Pick: Bournemouth to score in the first half
- Odds: 1.25 (22Bet)
Steve Cooper’s sides are known to hold their shape defensively and then change it to a more aggressive formation when going forward. However, this will be tested against Bournemouth to the full given the presence of Flynn Downes and Adam Lallana in the latter’s midfield.
Cooper will be happy that fullback James Justin bagged a brace against Arsenal in their previous game, but he will still have high expectations from Jamie Vardy, who has proven time and again that age is just a number.
On finding the balance between attack and defence ⚖️
“We’ve been good for goals and creating big chances, we need to strive to improve at the other end and be stronger.” pic.twitter.com/V6t2m2YpHd
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 3, 2024
The midfield triangle that Wilfred Ndidi creates alongside former Tottenham duo Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks is important for dictating the rhythm of play for this Leicester side.
The presence of 19-year-old Facundo Buonanotte provides an injunction of pace to their wings, but he is expected to meet his match Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez, who has been impeccable for the Cherries with his positioning and game awareness.
UTC pic.twitter.com/YBFQV343me
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 2, 2024
The player-to-player marking system will come in handy for both sides, but Leicester, playing at home, may feel subdued if Bournemouth start attacking from the get-go.
The Foxes, however, are smart enough to know that this tactic from the visitors will only end up opening wide areas for them to effect their counterattacks from.
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