The English Premier League returns this weekend with Leicester City playing their first game at the King Power Stadium when they host Brentford.
Venue: King Power Stadium (Leicester)
Key Statistics
Leicester City have scored 2+ goals in six of their last ten home league matches.
The Foxes averaged 1.55 goals and 1.30 goals conceded in their last 20 league matches.
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy scored 15 goals in the league for Leicester City last season.
Winger Harvey Barnes managed 10 league assists for Leicester City last season.
Brentford averaged 1.35 goals scored and 1.55 conceded in the previous 20 league games.
Ivan Toney was the starman for Brentford last season as he scored 12 league goals. French attacker Bryan Mbeumo was next on the list as he registered 11 goal contributions in the league.
Head to head
In four head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Leicester City holds the clear advantage, having won all four games.
Latest performances in all competitions (including friendlies)
Leicester: W-W-W-W-D
Brentford: W-W-W-L-D
Leicester
Leicester will look to begin this season the way they began the former season when they host Brentford at the King Power Stadium this Sunday.
The Foxes enjoyed much success at the beginning of the previous season, beating Manchester City in the Community Shield having won the FA Cup the season prior and winning their opening PL game; a 1-0o win over Wolves.
Their start to the season had their fans optimistic about another push for the top four and even the title. But what followed was an abysmal season that saw them struggle to finish in the top half of the table; eventually putting together a string of good performances at the end of the season to finish in eighth place.
With no signings this summer and with their legendary goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel off to Nice this summer, perhaps Brendan Rodgers’ side is ill-prepared to face this season.
But to be fair to them, they have enjoyed a strong pre-season, winning four of the six friendly games they played, losing only one.
They come into this tie unbeaten in their last four PL games (three wins and one draw) and will be looking to continue in that form when they host Brentford.
Possible Leicester starting line-up
Danny Ward; Timothy Castagne, Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans, James Justin; Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison; Jamie Vardy.
Injured: Ricardo Pereira
Doubtful: Ryan Bertrand
Suspended: None
Brentford
Brentford will build on their last three pre-season results when they travel to the East Midlands on Sunday.
The Bees beat Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis 1-0 in their most recent friendly fixture. Bryan Mbeumo scored the only goal of the game to secure the win for Thomas Frank’s Brentford; their third in a row.
They travel to the King Power Stadium looking to avoid the famed second-season syndrome that plagues former championship sides in their second season at the top-flight.
Frank’s side surprised many last season by finishing 13th in the league. But teams like Leeds United have shown that success in the first season does not guarantee that the second season will be smooth. And so Brentford will keep their eyes glued on the aim this season, which is to remain in the top flight.
To their credit, they have moved to ensure that they are well-equipped to navigate the rigour of the top-flight. Unlike Leicester City, the visitors have been extremely active in the transfer market, with left-back Aaron Hickey, attacker Kean Lewis-Potter and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha all joining the club.
The free transfer of Burnley captain Ben Mee has also bolstered their back line as they look for their first win over Leicester since 1953, and perhaps correct the alarming statistic that the West Londoners conceded the opening goal in 13 of their 19 away games last season—only Everton and Southampton fared worse.
Possible Brentford starting line-up
David Raya; Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, Pontus Jansson, Rico Henry; Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen; Ivan Toney, Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo.
Injured: Sergi Canos, Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Leicester 2-1 Brentford
