Premier League: Foxes and Bees in a Sunday Smasher

Leicester City vs Brentford

Premier League: Leicester City vs Brentford may not be the biggest draw of the opening weekend but there’s plenty for neutrals and SBOTOP fans to get stuck in to.

The two sides meet on Sunday afternoon at the KingPower Stadium and it’s a game sure to provide plenty of good attacking football and hopefully some goals. Both teams are in a phase of transition, no major overhauls but key movements in their squads which makes it an uncertain time for both the Foxes and the Bees.

Managers Brendan Rodgers and Thomas Frank both know they can’t afford a slow start but for different reasons. Rodgers’ Leicester have hovered around the top four in recent seasons but flopped last year and ended up eighth. Meanwhile Brentford exceeded all expectations by surviving their first season in the top flight and their fans will be fearing the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’…whether they admit it or not!         

Talking Points

Transfer toils won’t help Leicester

At the time of writing Rodgers is the only Premier League manager not to have made a signing so far this summer and we’re into the last month of the transfer window and, of course, the league action begins on Friday night. The Foxes will start their campaign without Kasper Schmeichel for the first time in 11 years, during which time Leicester fans have enjoyed unprecedented Premier League success, famously winning the title in 2016. The 35 year old Danish keeper has headed to Nice for the next chapter in his career and that leaves a big hole in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch.  

A keeper will be on Rodgers’ shopping list but, in the meantime, 25 year old Daniel Iverson is likely to be preferred to Wales stopper Danny Ward.

Big spending Newcastle have also been on the phone and Leicester face losing one of their most talented stars. The Magpies have been pursuing Leicester midfielder James Maddison, offering £40m and then £50m so far.

If the Geordies keep going they will probably get their man.

While transfer hassle won’t help the Foxes they do have some good news to start the season with. Centre back Wesley Fofana is fit again and that could be crucial. He was sadly missed last season and, alongside the experienced Jonny Evans, he will form one of the most dependable defensive pairings in the league.

And Rodgers has an exciting young squad with players like Kiernan Dewsbury Hall breaking through last year and Harvey Barmes back to fitness too. Leicester come into the game on the back of a 2-1 friendly win over second tier Preston North End as both Jamie Vardy and Barnes were on target.

Of course Vardy is still one of the most ruthless strikers in England and, after his wife’s costly court case went the wrong way, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to get back on the pitch! 

Life post Eriksen could be tough for Brentford

After a honeymoon period at the start of their 2021/22 campaign the Bees were in freefall by Christmas and were odds on to take the drop. One point in eight games left them three points above the relegation zone and with the bottom teams all picking up points the writing seemed to be on the wall.

Then Frank pulled a masterstroke with the signing of Christian Eriksen; and the transformation was spectacular as the Bees won seven of the ten games he started and they survived comfortably with a 13^th place finish.

But the great Dane has gone to Manchester United and that means Brentford are on their own again. Frank is moving for a replacement and he’s had a bid accepted by Serie A side Sampdoria for their 22 year old star Mikkel Damsgaard. The young Dane is a talent for sure, but he doesn’t have Eriksen’s Premier League experience and Brentford will look to Mathias Jensen to take the responsibility of running the attacking midfield.        

At odds of 3.50 to be relegated the Bees are expected to finish 16^th and that would suit Frank and the Brentford fans just perfectly. Then they can look to grow in season three. 

History

In terms of Leicester City vs Brentford results the Foxes have won all four of the previous meetings, twice in the FA Cup, 2020 and 2021, and last term Rodgers’ men did the league double over the Bees, both times by a 2-1 score line.  

The Foxes come into the game on the back of four pre-season victories while Brentford have just completed back to back wins, after taking a 4-0 thumping from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

Betting Tip

The Leicester City vs Brentford betting odds have a clear favourite in the hosts, while Brentford can be backed at 3.35 and the draw too is 3.35. We’re expecting goals, with over 2.50 at 1.78 and a repeat of the last two outcomes when these teams met; a 2-1 win for Leicester, is available at 7.14.

 

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