MX23RW : Tuesday, April 23 19:12:13| >> :120:33998:33998:
[monks data]
Attendance: 32,000
Leicester logo
Premier League
May 21, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
Bournemouth logo

1-1

Vardy (51')
FT(HT: 0-1)

Preview: Leicester City vs. Bournemouth

Sports Mole previews Leicester City's clash with travelling Bournemouth on the final day of the Premier League season.

Leicester City welcome the visit of travelling Bournemouth on the final day of the Premier League season as Craig Shakespeare's side aim to secure a top-half finish after a rather difficult season for the former champions.

As for the Cherries, the seaside club could be on course for an eighth-place finish in only their second term in the top flight.


Leicester City

Kasper Schmeichel applauds after the Premier League game between Manchester City and Leicester City on May 13, 2017© SilverHub

The Foxes play their final home game this campaign having endured a difficult season defending their memorable title. Claudio Ranieri's sacking proved a watershed moment in ensuring that Leicester were able to stave off relegation and much credit should go to interim boss Shakespeare.

The coach won his first five league matches in charge of Leicester in order to allay fears of relegation, although the Foxes have struggled of late with the side winning just two of their last seven games in the league.

Leicester have lost a problematic 18 league games this season and have produced just 47 Premier League goals, potentially making the Foxes the last defending champions to score less than 50 since Liverpool in 1923-24.

Shakespeare may want to take on the job full-time should he be offered the chance next season, and this contest could provide him with a chance to end the campaign on a positive note after losing so heavily at Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.

Should the Foxes wish to beat Bournemouth, statistics suggest that Leicester best not fall behind on Sunday given that City have won just one of the 22 league games in which they have conceded the first goal this term.

Recent form: LLWWLD


Bournemouth

Joshua King congratulates Junior Stanislas during the Premier League game between Bournemouth and Burnley on May 13, 2017© SilverHub

A win could see the Cherries finish as high as eighth in the standings should other results go their way, and three points at the King Power would bring an end to a successful season for Eddie Howe's men.

At points Howe's charges had looked in trouble, but the emerging talent of Joshua King in attack ensured that Bournemouth were able to bat away whispers of a potential relegation dogfight.

Norwegian frontman King has notched 16 Premier League goals and now stands as the second-top goalscorer in the league from Norway after Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Much of Howe's managerial talent has been lauded in recent years and figures show that the coach has handed 20 or more league appearances to 11 English players during the 2016-17 season, something that has not happened since 2000-01 at Aston Villa.

Bournemouth are already three points better off than their final tally last season and a victory away at Leicester would surely cap off a solid showing in only their second season in the Premier League.

Recent form: WDWWLL


Team News

Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez in action during his side's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on October 22, 2016© SilverHub

The Foxes could welcome back Andy King from injury, but centre-back Robert Huth remains out with a knock to the foot.

Shakespeare has other injury concerns too and Danny Drinkwater, Wes Morgan and Nampalys Mendy are all likely to miss the visit of the Cherries.

Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman have been missing in recent weeks for Bournemouth, although the midfielders could play some part on the final day of the season.

Howe looks likely to be without injured frontman Benik Afobe, while youngster Lewis Cook is also away on international duty.

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Fuchs, Chilwell, Mahrez, Amartey, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Smith, Francis, S. Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, Arter, Cook, Pugh, King, Mousset


Head To Head

The Foxes have been unable to beat Bournemouth in their last three Premier League meetings following two draws and a victory in favour of the Cherries.

Across those three meetings, City have only been able to muster one goal and that came in a 1-1 draw in 2015.

That said, in the three previous meetings between the clubs outside of the Premier League, Leicester have won four on the bounce against Bournemouth.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Leicester City 1-1 Bournemouth

Both sides are still fighting for the chance to finish in the top half of the table come the end of Sunday. That sort of finish would be delightful for Bournemouth in their second season in the league, while Leicester will likely be satisfied just to have avoided the drop and will most probably look back on their memorable Champions League fortunes with more reverie than what went on in the league. Goals have been hard to come by in recent meetings and this could quite easily end in a hard-fought draw.



ID:298605: cacheID:298605:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9570:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare on March 14, 2017
Read Next:
Shakespeare: 'Injuries have hit Leicester'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leicester CityLeicester432941081394291
2Leeds UnitedLeeds44279880374390
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton43259985562984
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City431812136254866
8Coventry CityCoventry4217121366521463
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Millwall441411194355-1253
17Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
18Queens Park RangersQPR441311204157-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!