Leicester City vs. Bournemouth: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Bournemouth have picked up four points from three away games in the Premier League so far while Leicester have just two points from their three games on home soil.

Both sides have found the back of the net in all of Leicester's last five games and three of Bournemouth's last five, so BTTS looks well on the cards here.

The atmosphere around Leicester is becoming increasingly more negative, and given the Cherries have won three of the last four head-to-head meetings between the two sides, we think they're playing Leicester at exactly the right time. Leicester 1-2 Bournemouth.

Leicester City face off against Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend as they continue their search for a first win of the campaign.

• Date: 05/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: King Power Stadium, Leicester

Leicester City’s campaign has been tough from the outset, which was widely predicted following a difficult summer. Currently 17th in the Premier League with just three points from six games, the Foxes have found life difficult since returning to the top flight, a struggle that was somewhat expected after a summer that saw key departures, including their star player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and former manager, Enzo Maresca, both of whom left for Chelsea. The void left by these exits has been difficult to fill, and the pressure is already building on new manager Steve Cooper.

Cooper’s appointment has brought some positive energy, with Leicester showing glimpses of determination and heart, but ultimately the team has been well short of quality in key areas and simply can't find a way to win games. One of the main concerns for Leicester has been their defensive frailty, having conceded 12 goals in their six league outings, a defensive record that is a stark indicator of the challenges Cooper faces in making the team more competitive. It’s clear that the quality within the squad, particularly at the back, is lacking, and unless improvements are made, their bid to avoid relegation could become a season-long battle.

Going forward, Leicester remain heavily reliant on veteran striker Jamie Vardy, who at 37-year-old continues to lead the line for the Foxes. Expectedly, though, his influence has waned compared to his peak years, and it rather epitomises Leicester's situation that they remain so reliant on him. Although Vardy remains a fan favourite and a symbol of Leicester’s remarkable rise in recent years, expecting him to carry the team at this stage of his career feels increasingly unrealistic. The lack of a more dynamic forward option is a problem Leicester need to address, and it’s likely that this reliance on Vardy could become more pronounced as the season progresses.

For Cooper, the task at Leicester was always going to be a difficult one, and after six matches without a win, the pressure is mounting. Fans have been left dissatisfied with the team’s performances, and the murmurs of discontent are growing louder. While it is still early in the season, Leicester need to start picking up points soon to prevent their situation from deteriorating further.

In contrast, Bournemouth have enjoyed a much stronger start to their Premier League campaign, with eight points from six matches placing them 11th in the table. Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have demonstrated the potential to improve on last season’s 12th-place finish, and there is a sense that the Cherries are building something promising under their Spanish manager.

Despite losing key striker Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer, Bournemouth still look to have plenty of bite going forward. Upon Solanke's departure, the Cherries moved quickly to secure a replacement, bringing in Evanilson from Porto, though the Brazilian forward has taken time to settle in England. After a slow start, however, Evanilson got on the scoresheet in last weekend’s fixture, and the hope around the Vitality Stadium is that this goal will boost his confidence and spark a scoring run.

Arguably the standout performer for Bournemouth this season has been Antoine Semenyo. The winger finished last season strongly and appears to have carried that form into the current campaign, establishing himself as one of the Cherries’ key players. Semenyo’s ability to stretch defences with his pace and 1v1 ability has made him a vital outlet for Iraola’s side.

If Bournemouth are to challenge for a top-half finish, which is likely the minimum target for Iraola this season, games against newly promoted sides like Leicester are ones they will feel they need to win. Bournemouth have already shown that they can compete against mid-table opposition, but maintaining consistency in these types of fixtures will be crucial if they are to avoid slipping into the lower reaches of the league.

This game will not be televised live to UK audiences, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Leicester.

Leicester Team News:

The Foxes remain without Jannik Vestergaard, Patson Daka and Jakub Stolarczyk, all of whom are making recoveries from respective injuries.

Steve Cooper may not make too many changes to his side, but he could recall Jordan Ayew into the side to introduce more attacking impetus into the starting XI.

Predicted lineup: Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Skipp, Winks; Ayew, Ndidi, Mavididi; Vardy.

Bournemouth Team News:

Midfielder Tyler Adams remains Bournemouth's only injury absentee as he works his way back from a long-term spell on the sidelines.

The Cherries have a fairly settled starting XI, but Justin Kluivert will be hoping to work his way back into the starting lineup after dropping out for Dango Ouattara last time out.

Predicted lineup: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Outtara, Tavernier; Evanilson.

Leicester's most recent game saw them fall to a 4-2 defeat away at Arsenal. In what was an incredibly one-sided game, the Foxes fell 2-0 behind on the stroke of half-time and it looked as though the game was prematurely over. However, two goals out of nothing from full-back James Justin, the second of which was a screamer, dramatically drew Leicester level and put them on course for an unlikely result.

The Foxes held on by a thread for the remainder of the game, but in the 94th minute, Arsenal's pressure finally told, with Leandro Trossard forcing Wilfried Ndidi to turn the ball into his own net. Kai Havertz then sealed the game just five minutes later.

That result followed a penalty shootout win over Walsall in the EFL Cup (following a 0-0 draw), a 1-1 draw against Everton, a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace and a 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Bournemouth's most recent game was a dominant 3-1 with over Southampton. A suffocating first half saw them take a 3-0 lead before the half-time whistle thanks to goals from Evanilson, Dango Outtara and Antoine Semenyo.

Southampton pulled a goal back in the 51st minute, but Bournemouth saw the game out fairly comfortably and were much the better side of the two.

Prior to that, Bournemouth were hammered 3-0 away at Liverpool in a game that saw all three goals come before half-time. The Cherries were very naive in their approach at Anfield, with Liverpool tearing them to shreds in transition.

Before that, Bournemouth lost 0-1 to Chelsea in an extremely frustrating game. The Cherries were the better side by a distance, missing a number of golden opportunities - including a penalty - before Chelsea won the game late on.

Prior to that, Bournemouth beat Everton 3-2, and drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest.

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