Aston Villa vs Leicester City LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Villa Park
Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Leicester City today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
After this commentator got over Vestergaard vying for a position change, Justin's eventual cross from the right was claimed by Martinez. Villa then had a break end with Vestergaard and Mavididi playing out well from the left corner. In the next phase, Mavididi nicks the ball of Cash but Villa are forced to quickly recover.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Vestergaard! Are you Maldini in disguise? For the third time today, the huge Dane just skips and jinks away from his markers like they're not even there.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
After Villa's corner came to nothing with a misplaced Tielemans pass, Leicester keep hold of the ball before Soumare gets robbed. Bailey is then taken down, but there's no free-kick given.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Vardy is nearly slipped through but Konsa deals with the danger well to play back to Martinez. Leicester then press so high and the hosts just manage to squeeze out of trouble with some expert interplay. A move up the pitch culminates in a shot from Barkley, yet it's blocked behind for a corner on the left.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
El Khannouss causes trouble in the area after a Winks ball over from the right. It dribbles through to Mavididi and he spoons a great chance back the way it came!
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Tielemans fires one from the edge of the box after the ball is poked away from Watkins, yet his low drive is straight into the arms of Stolarczyk. That's better though...
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Some almost pensive building out from the back has been a shared theme today, as Mings and Vestergaard have been their respective teams' players with the most touches. Watkins has been dealt with brilliantly by the combined nous of Vestergaard and Coady. That said, Leicester just haven't been able to capitalise on their ability to regain possession in the middle with El Khannouss and Soumare. They have, however, shown great patience to allow Villa time on the ball, but need to create more concrete opportunities with Vardy and Mavididi often looking like spare parts further forward. This game hardly reads like a classic. Villa created an xG of 0.15 in that first 45 minutes, while Leicester operated around just 0.05 xG.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Some almost pensive building out from the back has been a shared theme today, as Mings and Vestergaard have been their respective teams' players with the most touches. Watkins has been dealt with brilliantly by the combined nous of Vestergaard and Coady. That said, Leicester just haven't been able to capitalise on their ability to regain possession in the middle with El Khannouss and Soumare. They have, however, shown great patience to allow Villa time on the ball, but need to create more concrete opportunities with Vardy and Mavididi often looking like spare parts further forward. This game hardly reads like a classic. Villa created an xG of 0.15 in that first 45 minutes, while Leicester operated around just 0.05 xG.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
A closely-run and somewhat bleak January contest comes to a halt, as the half-time score reads Aston Villa 0-0 Leicester City. This commentator was hoping that one of these two sides would eventually emerge out of the formative exchanges, however, neither really took the game by the scruff of the neck. With action hard to come by as the hosts tried to pick through the Foxes' stubborn shape, while also reacting to inconsistent attacks - the first flurry of intent arrived in the 14th minute. Cash flew down the right before powering in a low and dangerous ball for Watkins. However, the experienced Coady was alive to the danger and poked the ball away expertly. Then, as the half steadily wound down with Villa trying almost every passing combination in the book, a last-gasp crescendo had Leicester heads spinning. Watkins ran onto a looping ball on the left and blasted across the face. Vestergaard prodded away before Cash let rip from range to sting the hands of Stolarczyk who offered up a fine parry.
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