AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to end Leicester’s unbeaten start in the Premier League when the teams lock horns at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Eddie Howe’s team will also be out for revenge having lost for the first time at the venue in the top fight on their last visit in March.
The Foxes rallied following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at the end of February, the Northern Irishman leading them to ninth place in the Premier League.
Rodgers has continued his good work into this season with Leicester boasting one win and two draws from their first three games.
Following a stalemate with Wolves in their curtain-raiser, Onyinye Ndidi’s leveller earned them an impressive 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes saw them register their first victory, a 2-1 win at Sheffield United condemning the Blades to their first defeat since promotion.
Ahead of the game, afcb.co.uk caught up with Rob Tanner, who covers the fortunes of Leicester City for The Athletic.
afcb.co.uk: How have City looked in their first three Premier League games?
RT: Solid, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Defensively, they have looked good and there have been smells in an attacking sense where they have shown great promise, like the second half at Chelsea when they created plenty of chances.
It looks like they will need more time for the new signings to settle in and the system Rodgers wants to employ to become second nature to the players, but overall I think the fans have been encouraged.
It wasn’t the easiest of starts with Wolves at home and then away games at Chelsea and newly-promoted Sheffield United.
afcb.co.uk: Who is the pick of City’s summer signings?
RT: The summer signings are still finding their feet. Youri Tielemans (pictured above) is the club’s record buy at £40 million and we all saw how good he was last season when he was on loan at City from Monaco.
But the system has been tweaked since he signed permanently and we haven’t seen him at the same level just yet.
Ayoze Perez looked very impressive in pre-season, but the new-look front three haven’t clicked just yet and it will take more time.
We haven’t seen James Justin at all yet this season as City fielded a very strong side in the Carabao Cup at Newcastle and he may have thought that would have been an opportunity for him.
I like the look of Dennis Praet. He will need time to adjust to the more physical demands of the Premier League compared to Serie A, but he seems to have what it is going to take.
afcb.co.uk: What was your take on the Harry Maguire transfer and how much of a loss do you think he will be?
RT: I think City knew they could lose him this summer. The speculation and interest from other clubs was evident before the end of last season so City were prepared for the offers.
They stood firm on his valuation, having rejected offers of around £65 million initially. They had offers from both Manchester United and Manchester City.
In the end, United were the only ones to agree the fee of £80 million. After Maguire told the club he wanted to hold talks with either club if the valuation was met, they decided to do the deal.
They had only a few days to try to bring in a replacement after United’s late bid and tried for James Tarkowski at Burnley but their £30 million offer was rejected and they decided to keep their powder dry for now as they had two talented younger players in Calgary Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic.
Benovic has been injured and is just getting back to fitness but Soyuncu has been excellent so far.
afcb.co.uk: How has Brendan Rodgers changed the culture of the club?
RT: He wants the culture to be that of real hard work on the training ground, with shorter but more intense sessions and he wants a winning mentality in every game, hence the strong side he put out at Newcastle.
There were only two changes and that was in stark contrast to previous City managers who used the Carabao Cup as an opportunity to give game-time to fringe players.
He wants silverware this season and a top-six challenge. There is a real positivity around the place.
afcb.co.uk: City finished ninth last season – was that a fair reflection and do you think they will do better this season?
RT: I do think they will do better than ninth this season. The target is top six and that will be tough to achieve.
No side has broken up the established top six since, well, City when they won the title in 2016.
But with Rodgers in charge there is a genuine sense that it is achievable. After 2016, you have to believe anything is achievable.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
RT: Bournemouth have been a problem side for City in recent years, but they still haven’t won at Leicester since 1988 and I think that run will continue.
If City’s attack clicks on the day they have the quality to come out on the right side of the result, so I will go with 2-1 to City.
You can follow Rob on Twitter – @RobTannerLCFC
Match officials: Peter Bankes (referee), Peter Kirkup (assistant), Derek Eaton (assistant), Darren England (fourth official), Martin Atkinson (VAR), Lee Betts (assistant VAR).
