Defending English Premier League champions Leicester City will be looking for their first win of 2016/17 the season this Saturday when they take on Swansea City at home at the King Power Stadium. Leicester played to a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at home last weekend while Swansea was downed 2-0 at home at the Liberty Stadium in Wales by newly-promoted Hull City. Swansea then beat Peterborough United of League Two on Tuesday in a League Cup clash.
Leicester City vs Swansea City – bet365 Soccer Betting Line:
- bet365 currently lists Leicester as the favorite to win the game at 8/11 with Swansea 17/4 and a draw at 13/5
Leicester City vs Swansea City – Head to Head:
These two teams last met twice in Premier League action last season with Leicester winning 3-0 away in December and 4-0 home in April. Swansea has just four victories overall in their past 22 meetings with Leicester and has lost three in a row. Overall, these two sides have met 35 times in the past with Leicester winning 17, losing 10 and drawing the other eight.
Leicester City – A Closer Look:
Leicester City was beaten 2-1 by newly-promoted Hull City in Hull in their opening match with midfielder Riyad Mahrez scoring their only goal. They then played to a 0-0 home draw with last season’s runners-up Arsenal in week two. Leicester shocked the soccer world by winning the Premier League last season after being listed as 5000/1 long shots before the campaign kicked off. They accumulated 81 points on 23 victories, 12 draws and just three defeats with 68 goals for and 36 against. However, they enter this weekend’s action in 15th-place in the 20-team league with a draw and a loss and just one goal for and two against.
The team lost N’Golo Kante to Chelsea during the offseason while captain Wes Morgan signed a contract extension. They also signed newcomers Ahmed Musa, Ron-Robert Zieler, Nampalys Mendy, Raul Rubio, Bartosz Kapustka and Luis Hernandez. Several players were also released, including Andrej Kramaric, Mark Schwarzer, Paul Konchesky, Ryan Watson, Dean Hammond, Harry Panayiotou and Joe Dodoo while Michael Cain and Hamza Choudhury have been sent out on loan. Leicester did manage to keep Golden Boot runner-up Jamie Vardy and his 24 goals and Premier League player of the year Riyad Mahrez just agreed to a new four-year contract. Leicester appears to have a full, healthy squad heading into this game.
Swansea City – A Closer Look:
Swansea City dropped a 2-0 decision at home to newly-promoted Hull City last Saturday with Shaun Maloney scoring the winner in the 79th minute and Abel Hernandez adding an insurance marker in the second minute of injury time. They won their season-opener 1-0 on the road against newly-promoted Burnley with Leroy Fer scoring in the 82nd minute. Swansea is now 1-1 on the season and in 12th place with three points and one goal for with two against. They beat Peterborough United 3-1 in the League Cup on Tuesday with two goals by Oliver McBurnie and a single by Jay Fulton. Swansea finished in 12th place last season with 47 points from 12 wins, 11 draws and 15 losses. They scored goals 42 goals and allowed 52 against. Luckily for the Swans they also appear have a healthy squad heading into Saturday’s match.
There was a huge turnover at the club during the offseason though as several players came and went. The newcomers include Leroy Fer from Queens Park Rangers, Mike van der Hoorn from Ajax, Tyler Reid from Manchester United, George Byers from Watford, Mark Birighetti from the Newcastle Jets of Australia, Fernando Llorente from Sevilla, and Borja Baston from Atletico Madrid. Those who left Liberty Stadium include Matthew Grimes on loan, Alberto Paloschi, Kyle Bartley on loan, Liam Shephard on loan, Ryan Hedges on loan, Bafetimbi Gomis on loan, Adam King on loan, Andre Ayew, Eder, former captain Ashley Williams and Josh Sheehan on loan.
Leicester City vs Swansea City – Takeaway:
Leicester really needs to get on track with a win, and there’s a big opportunity to do so here with a home match against one of the Premier League’s mediocre sides.
Click here to read our review of the bet365 online sportsbook.
by Ian S. Palmer