Leicester City will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the 2019-20 campaign when they welcome Bournemouth to the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Foxes have collected five points from their three league matches to sit fourth in the table, while Bournemouth are one of 10 teams to have gathered four points from their three games this term.
Match preview
© Reuters
Despite losing Harry Maguire to Manchester United during the summer transfer window, there is a feeling that Leicester could be in for a very successful campaign. Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have more points than the Foxes after three games, meaning that it has been a positive start.
Brendan Rodgers's side opened their season with a goalless draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, before picking up an impressive point at Chelsea on August 18. Their first three points of the season came at Sheffield United last weekend, though, with James Maddison starring for the team.
Leicester were also triumphant during the week as they beat Newcastle United on penalties in the EFL Cup to book their spot in the third round. Somewhat surprisingly, Rodgers selected a very strong side at St James' Park, suggesting that the League Cup will be taken seriously during the 2019-20 campaign.
The Foxes, who have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three league matches on home soil, have not actually lost to Bournemouth in front of their own supporters since December 1988. Last season, the home team won 2-0 at the King Power Stadium, although Bournemouth won the reverse fixture 4-2 at the Vitality Stadium.
This is the type of games that Leicester have to win if they are to break into the top six this season, and a victory would lead them nicely into their trip to Manchester United immediately after the international break.
© Reuters
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe will have been encouraged by his team's start to the 2019-20 campaign, with a total of four points from three matches leaving them in 11th spot in the table.
The Cherries drew with Sheffield United and beat Aston Villa in their first two matches of the new season, before suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City last weekend. Like Leicester, Bournemouth were also in EFL Cup action during the week - progressing to the third round with a penalty-shootout win over Forest Green Rovers.
This is actually the fifth straight season that the team have been present at this level of football, which is remarkable when considering the size of the club in relation to the majority of the division.
That said, the Cherries, who finished 14th last season, have not been afraid to splash the cash in the top flight. One of their summer signings has already made a huge impression, with on-loan Liverpool attacker Harry Wilson netting in each of his two Premier League appearances for the club.
Callum Wilson is yet to get off the mark in the league this term - 14 goals arrived during an impressive 2018-19 campaign, though, and the centre-forward will have been buoyed his inclusion in the latest England squad.
Leicester City form: DDWW
Bournemouth form: DWLW
Team News
© Reuters
Ben Chilwell again missed out against Newcastle on Wednesday night with a hip problem, but the left-back is expected to return to the Leicester XI on Saturday afternoon.
Wilfred Ndidi is also being tipped to overcome a hamstring problem to feature against the Cherries. However, Matty James and Daniel Amartey are still out with Achilles and ankle injuries respectively.
There are not expected to be many surprises in the home side's XI this weekend, with Maddison and Ayoze Perez again supporting Jamie Vardy in the final third of the field.
As a result, Harvey Barnes, who scored a stunner at Bramall Lane last Saturday, will more than likely have to make do with a spot on the bench alongside the likes of Dennis Praet.
As for Bournemouth, Charlie Daniels joined a lengthy injury list when the defender suffered a serious knee injury against City at the Vitality Stadium last weekend.
Lewis Cook, Simon Francis, Dan Gosling, David Brooks and Junior Stanislas are among those still unavailable, leaving Howe with limited options for change.
Harry Wilson's excellent free kick against City could see the Welshman earn a starting role, while Diego Rico could come into the side at left-back.
There are not expected to be any other changes further forward, though, with Ryan Fraser and Joshua King again supporting Callum Wilson in the final third.
Leicester City possible starting lineup: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Tielemans, Choudhury, Ndidi; Maddison, Vardy, Perez
Bournemouth possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Smith, S. Cook, Ake, Rico; Billing, Lerma; H Wilson, King, Fraser; C Wilson
We say: Leicester City 2-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth have made a decent start to the new campaign, and the Cherries have actually only lost once in the Premier League to Leicester. The Foxes are a team to be taken seriously this term, though, and we expect the hosts to pick up all three points on Saturday with a fairly routine win.
Matt Law
