Football Prediction | Aston Villa vs Leicester City | English Premier League | January 4 – Can Aston Villa Exploit Leicester’s Struggles to Stay in the Top Ten?

Premier League action resumes as Aston Villa hosts Leicester City at Villa Park on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at 9:00 PM (GMT). Under Unai Emery’s guidance, Aston Villa aims to capitalize on their home advantage and secure another vital win in their push for European qualification. Meanwhile, Leicester City, managed by Enzo Maresca, will look to turn their fortunes around and climb out of the relegation battle.

Aston Villa vs Leicester City Form Guide

Aston Villa

Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, has impressed this season with a solid combination of attacking flair and defensive discipline. Players like Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans have been crucial, offering creativity and consistency in key moments. However, Villa needs to address individual errors and aerial weaknesses to secure a stronger foothold in matches.

Leicester City

Leicester City, under Enzo Maresca, has struggled for consistency but remains resilient. Jamie Vardy continues to be their talisman, while Facundo Buonanotte has added dynamism to their attacking plays. Leicester’s defense, however, has been their Achilles’ heel, particularly against counter-attacks and set pieces.

Aston Villa vs Leicester City Key Battles

Ollie Watkins vs Jamie Vardy

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with 8 goals this season, faces Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, who has netted 6 times. Watkins’ ability to find spaces and capitalize on scoring opportunities will be crucial for Villa, while Vardy’s experience, pace, and poaching instincts make him a constant threat for the Leicester attack. This clash of top scorers is set to be a key narrative in the match.

Youri Tielemans vs Facundo Buonanotte

Villa’s Youri Tielemans, with 4 combined goals and assists, goes up against Leicester’s Facundo Buonanotte, who has contributed to 6 goals and assists this season. Tielemans’ vision and precision in the midfield will be vital for Villa’s buildup play, while Buonanotte’s creativity and versatility in attack will be key for Leicester. This midfield battle will likely influence the flow and tempo of the game.. 

Also read:- Football Prediction | Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United | English Premier League | January 4

Aston Villa vs Leicester City Tactical Outlook

Aston Villa demonstrates a solid tactical foundation, excelling in attacking and defending set pieces, creating long-shot opportunities, and showing resilience when coming back from losing positions. Their style revolves around short passes, attacking through the middle, and attempting through balls, complemented by a consistent first eleven. They also play the offside trap and often face aggressive opponents. However, their vulnerability in aerial duels and tendency to make individual errors can be exploited, particularly by teams strong in aerial play.

Leicester City thrives in aerial duels and shows remarkable resilience when coming back from losing positions, a trait that makes them a challenging opponent. Their style emphasizes playing with width and operating in their own half, which can create opportunities for counter-attacks. However, defensively, Leicester struggles against counter-attacks, set pieces, and attacks down the wings. They also face difficulties in avoiding fouls in dangerous areas and stopping opponents from creating chances, which may leave gaps that Aston Villa can exploit with their attacking strengths.

Head-to-Head Encounters

The current head-to-head record between these teams is evenly matched, with Aston Villa recording 7 wins, Leicester City achieving 6 wins, and 3 matches ending in draws. Aston Villa enters this fixture as favorites, with bookmakers offering odds of 1.33 for a Villa win, 5.25 for a draw, and 8.00 for a Leicester victory.

Injury News and Suspensions

Aston Villa 

Aston Villa will have to manage without Jhon Durán and Morgan Rogers, both suspended, as they approach crucial fixtures. Additionally, Pau Torres is sidelined with a foot injury, and his return is anticipated in late January 2025. These absences may test Villa’s depth in the coming matches.

Leicester City 

Leicester City continues to struggle with injuries to key players. Abdul Fatawu remains out with a cruciate ligament injury, sidelining him until early August 2025. Kasey McAteer and Wilfred Ndidi are doubtful due to a knock and thigh injury, respectively. Meanwhile, Mads Hermansen is expected back by mid-January 2025, while Ricardo Pereira will be out until mid-March 2025 with a hamstring injury. Wout Faes is also doubtful as he deals with a knock, leaving Leicester short of options.

Aston Villa vs Leicester City Possible Playing Squad

Aston Villa

Martínez (GK), Digne, Carlos, Konsa, Cash, Kamara, Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Watkins, McGinn

Leicester City

Stolarczyk (GK), Kristiansen, Vestergaard, Coady, Justin, Winks, Soumaré, Mavididi, Khannouss, Buonanotte, Vardy

Match Details at a Glance

Match Prediction

Aston Villa is expected to leverage their home advantage and superior form to claim victory. Leicester’s defensive frailties may cost them, despite their ability to fight back in challenging situations.

Score Prediction

Aston Villa is poised to edge out Leicester City with a 2-1 victory in an exciting matchup. Ollie Watkins and John McGinn are likely to deliver crucial goals for Villa, showcasing their attacking prowess. Jamie Vardy, with his trademark sharpness, could find the net for Leicester to keep them in contention. Ultimately, Villa’s cohesion and home advantage should secure them a narrow win. 

Disclaimer: This Football prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.