Premier League: Foxes and Clarets Promise Action All the Way

Leicester City vs Burnley

Leicester City and Burnley have history. They are former Championship foes and Premier League strugglers, but one thing they always provide is an all-action battle.

So this is a fixture to look forward to as Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers and Clarets chief Sean Dyche are old mates from their time together at Watford.

But while the Foxes have Champions League aspirations, Burnley would snap your hands off for a third top-10 finish in four seasons.

Rodgers’ men got the season underway with a handsome victory over West Brom, but Leicester City vs Burnley is the first Premier League game for the Clarets, following the postponement of their opening day meeting with Manchester United.

Talking Points

Fast start for Leicester

The Foxes started with a Midlands derby against new boys West Brom and they coasted to victory in the second half thanks to an opening goal courtesy of new signing Timothy Castagne and a penalty double from the old stager Jamie Vardy.

Rodgers’ side totally dominated the Baggies, firing seven on-target shots at Sam Johnstone’s goal while Leicester keeper and skipper Kasper Schmeichel had just a solitary shot to save in the 90 minutes.

Can Timothy Castagne score in their Premier League clash against Burnley? — Timothy Castagne celebrates scoring their first goal

Youri Tielemens is a player we hope to see a lot more of this season and he was a constant threat against West Brom.

Meanwhile, Harvey Barnes looked lively but was denied by two good saves from Johnstone.

However, there was an added bonus for the Foxes as attacking midfielder James Maddison made a substitute appearance after having recovered from a hip operation.

Burnley’s stars won’t come cheap

The Leicester City vs Burnley betting odds here at SBOTOP back the Foxes for a home win, but that won’t worry the Clarets or their boss Dyche.

Both players and head coach are made of sterner stuff than to worry about a team which has haughtier expectations.

But Dyche has a constant battle to produce a strong Premier League club with fiscal restraints. The Lancashire club spends carefully and is one of the few sides for who relegation would not spell financial disaster.

Going down is never on the agenda for a team with its fair share of stars.

Some of the pre-match Leicester City vs Burnley news has covered a potential approach from the Foxes for Burnley’s highly-rated winger Dwight McNeil.

The 20-year-old is fancied by a host of top clubs including Juventus, but Dyche has warned that the Clarets are no longer a selling club and it would take a hefty fee to prize McNeil away from Turf Moor.

England goalkeeper Nick Pope was a summer target for Chelsea, while West Ham have made an unsuccessful bid to lure away centre back James Tarkowski.

The England international will hope to break into Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2021 squad, but he had to finish the 2020 campaign without his partner and skipper Ben Mee who picked up an injury in July.

Mee was hoping to be fit for the new Premier League season, but Republic of Ireland centre-back Kevin Long may have to deputise in the early fixtures.

At the other end of the pitch, there are no such problems for Dyche as Burnley have dangerous strikers in Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez, alongside Matej Vydra and Ashley Barnes in the wings.

History

These two teams have had some great tussles in the top two divisions over the last two decades.

Leicester have the better of exchanges, but not by far with 12 wins to the Clarets nine, and there have been seven draws.

The teams were promoted together in 2014. And the following season, a missed Burnley penalty and a late Vardy winner relegated the Clarets as the Foxes pulled off a miraculous escape.

Over the last three seasons, the Foxes have won three to Burnley’s two and there has been a single draw. The honours were shared last season with the home side winning 2-1 on each occasion.

When the Clarets were victorious at Turf Moor back in January, Nick Pope saved a penalty from Vardy before Ashley Westwood scored a rare goal to secure all three points.

But the Foxes have a strong record at home to Burnley, unbeaten in their last nine encounters, while the Clarets are unbeaten in their last five away matches.