Prediction: Leicester vs Bournemouth

Verdict: Leicester win and both teams to score

Best Odds: 9/4

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides who firmly have their sights set on securing a top-half finish this season, Leicester will welcome Bournemouth to the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Leicester

Starting with the hosts, after picking up a 2-1 win away at Burnley prior to the international break, Leicester appear to be enjoying a new lease of life. Really showing some improvements following the arrival of Brendan Rodgers last month, the Foxes have now won their last two Premier League matches on the bounce and another victory on Saturday could see them climb within touching distance of the final Europa League spot. Enduring a run of form that saw them lose their previous four matches at the King Power during the end of Claude Puel’s tenure, the former Celtic boss will be most impressed by their recent performances in Leicestershire. Now picking up back to back victories over Fulham and Brighton in their last two appearances in front of their own fans, Rodgers will also be ecstatic by the on-going form of leading goalscorer Jamie Vardy. Bagging a brace in their 3-1 win over Fulham earlier in the month, the 32-year-old has four top-flight goals in his last four outings and has also recorded three goals in his last two matches at the King Power.

Team News

Leicester’s club captain Wes Morgan is likely to replace the suspended Harry Maguire on Saturday.

Marc Albrighton has resumed training after a hamstring injury and it is hoped he will play again this season.

Bournemouth

As for the visitors, suffering some last-gasp heartbreak and only picking up a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle prior to the international break, Bournemouth have struggled with their consistency at the back end of the season. Although a victory this weekend would see them climb back into the top-half of the table, Bournemouth’s major problem this season has undoubtedly been their form away from the Vitality. Aside from their 2-0 win away at rock-bottom Huddersfield earlier in the month, Eddie Howe’s men have lost their other 10 away matches across all competitions. Despite their poor form away from the South Coast, Saturday’s visitors will be boosted by their 4-2 win over Leicester back in September. While Leicester have one leading man enjoying a purple patch, the Cherries have their own leading man in red-hot form. Once again retaining a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, Callum Wilson has continued to impress since his return from injury. Finding the net in their 2-0 win away at Huddersfield earlier in the month, the 27-year-old has three goals in his last four Premier League outings.

Team News

Bournemouth trio Junior Stanislas, Adam Smith and Dan Gosling could all be in contention to return from injuries.

Stanislas has missed six matches with a hip problem, while Gosling and Smith have been out with respective knee and thigh injuries.

Key Factors to Consider

• Leicester are vying for three consecutive Premier League home victories for the first time since May 2017, when they won their first five under Craig Shakespeare.
• They have won three of their last four league matches, having won just one of the last eight under Claude Puel (D1, L6).
• Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in six league games – one more than he had in his previous 16 appearances.
• The Cherries could lose more than 11 league away fixtures in a season for the first time since 2007-08, which they ended with 13 defeats in the third tier.
• Bournemouth are winless in the last 12 Premier League games in which they conceded a goal since beating Huddersfield 2-1 in December (D3, L9).

Conclusion

On paper, this has all the makings of a match that could produce plenty of chances at both ends. With Leicester failing to record a clean sheet in their last 10 outings, coupled with Bournemouth’s struggles on the road, both will see this as a golden opportunity to pick up three points. With the two sides playing out a 4-2 thriller when they met in the reverse fixture back in September, we’re expecting a lively encounter at the King Power Stadium.

Verdict: Leicester win and both teams to score

Best Odds: 9/4

Bookmaker: Bet365