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
Ayew is fouled from behind by Tielemans on Leicester's right wing. The free-kick is put into the area yet Villa head it out. Vestergaard again shows his ability to turn away from danger in the middle, but the visitors are eventually forced backwards.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
After a brief spell of passing in the Leicester box, the ball is firmly back with the hosts. The Foxes' structure is very firm. Winks gets a foot on possession before being fouled, yet Villa get it back. You feel the home side need to muster up some meaningful attacks soon enough. Leicester are happy where they are, it seems, and happy to frustrate.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Following their 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium in August, Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Leicester since 2003-04. They admittedly look more comfortable of the two teams so far.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Bailey tries a pass with the outside of his boot to the right byline, but alas it's a little too powerful for his inside runner. Stolarczyk lofts up a goal-kick, yet the ball is quickly back with the hosts.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
After a challenge from the bustling El Khannouss, Mings holds his 'no-go area' as one commentator has so aptly put it. Winning a free-kick, Villa keep the ball in their half as Leicester look happy to drop back slightly.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Soumare flies through the back of a turning Tielemans in the centre-right of the pitch. It looks like a painful one for the Belgian. However, Villa look forward quickly and Barkley pushes the ball left. It gets to McGinn eventually and he drives to the left byline before winning a corner. This goes short and McGinn floats a deep ball to Cash at the back post. He can only header tamely, giving Stolarczyk an easy claim.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
It's been far from a frenetic start here as both sides have been careful to get a foot on the ball. Vestegaard did deploy an uncharacteristic drag-back flick, yet that's been the only brief highlight so far in the early skirmish.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Villa emerge from the bowels of Villa Park with dreams of Champions League qualification. They're only six points off the European places. For Leicester, it's all about keeping survival hopes alive in the second half of the term. Three points would be huge in the West Midlands here. The two respective captains meet with Gillett for the coin toss. It looks like the visitors will kick us off, playing from right to left.
Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Today's chief official is Jarred Gillett. He arrives for his first Premier League game since late September's 1-1 draw between Newcastle and Manchester City. Interestingly enough, the Australian referee has dished out 26 yellow cards in just the four top-flight games that he's been in charge of this term. It is worth bearing in mind, that eight of those cautions arrived in the North London Derby (1-0W Arsenal). Will we see some better discipline this afternoon? He leads the two sides out of the tunnel onto the pristine turf at Villa Park.
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