EPL Soccer: Leicester vs. Aston Villa:
Week 3 of the English Premier League season begins on Saturday, August 31. The 15th-ranked Leicester City Foxes face a very tough 12th-ranked Aston Villa, who nearly defeated Arsenal last week.
How to Watch Leicester vs. Aston Villa
Where: Peacock
When: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET
Leicester vs. Aston Villa Odds
Leicester +347 // Aston Villa -132
Total: 2.5 (-139/+109)
Leicester vs. Aston Villa EPL Prediction:
Aston Villa are levels above Leicester. They were exceptional in their opening-day victory at West Ham. If it had not been for the excellence of goalkeeper David Raya, they should have beaten Arsenal last weekend.
Ollie Watkins has been sensational for Villa (and dare I say England!) but would have had a sleepless night reliving those chances he missed against the Gunners. He will look to make the hosts pay for that here in the last game before the international break.
I am not convinced by Leicester at all. Talking of missed chances, they were so lucky to draw against Tottenham in their opening game when they should have been dead and buried before the halftime whistle.
That fortunate point sees them above five teams who have yet to get off the mark this season and disguises how bad they have been across the opening two fixtures. I opposed them last week against Fulham, who got the job done, albeit after making harder work of it than they should have.
In short, this Leicester side are not good enough for the Premier League. The players they have brought in aren’t good enough. The likes of Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew are journeymen on the wrong side of 30, while the main goal threat is 36-year-old Jamie Vardy.
I am unconvinced by manager Steve Cooper, who already looks fed up having seen the club’s best player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (25), sold on. Belgian international defender Wout Faes has declared himself “not happy” and is looking for the exit door ahead of the transfer window closing on Friday night.
These two sides are heading in opposite directions. While the Foxes prepare for a relegation battle, Unai Emery will prepare his side to compete in the Champions League. Villa will get the job done here, as they have done regularly since Emery’s arrival.
Only Manchester City and Arsenal have picked up more points on the road since the Spaniard joined the Villains. In the eight road matches last term, where they started as favorites, they won five, drawn two, and lost just one. They will make the short journey back home from the King Power Stadium with another three points in the bag.
EPL Prediction: Leicester vs Aston Villa – Aston Villa to win at -132.
