Leicester City opens Premier League return with home clash against Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City return to the Premier League after a one-season absence, kicking off their new campaign at home against Tottenham Hotspur. The fixture at the King Power Stadium is scheduled for Monday 19 August at 20:00 (GMT+1). The Foxes, who claimed the EFL Championship title last season, face a Spurs side looking to improve on their fifth-place finish from last term — and one that has backed that ambition with significant transfer market investment.
Tottenham Hotspur make bold moves in the transfer market
Tottenham Hotspur threw open the doors during the latest transfer window. The arrivals of Dominic Solanke (€64.3 million), Archie Gray from Leeds United (€41.25 million) and Wilson Odobert from Burnley (€29.3 million) signal clear intent from the North London club ahead of the new season. Manager Ange Postecoglou also guided his squad through a promising pre-season, with Tottenham Hotspur picking up four wins from six matches — their only setbacks being two defeats against Bayern München. The statistics favour the Lilywhites heading into this opening-day fixture. Spurs have won five of their six Premier League curtain-raisers against promoted sides and have failed to score in just one of their seventeen league meetings with Leicester City. Postecoglou is expected to hand Solanke an immediate starting berth, with the 26-year-old striker set to line up alongside Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-Min in a 4-3-3 system. Injury concerns are minimal, though Richarlison and Fraser Forster could be absent. Midfielder Yves Bissouma will definitely miss out — he is suspended following an incident in which he was filmed inhaling nitrous oxide the previous weekend.
Steve Cooper takes charge of a revamped Leicester City
Leicester City are writing a new chapter in their club history. As EFL Championship champions, the Foxes are back in the top flight, this time under the stewardship of Steve Cooper, the former Nottingham Forest manager. He succeeds Enzo Maresca, who departed for Chelsea in the wake of the title triumph. Maresca was not alone in leaving — midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also made the move to Stamford Bridge, while striker Kelechi Iheanacho departed on a free transfer to Sevilla. Not everything has changed at Leicester City, however: club icon Jamie Vardy remains very much part of the picture. The veteran was the fifth-highest scorer in the Championship with eighteen goals and played a crucial role in securing promotion. Whether he will feature on Monday remains uncertain — as does the availability of Conor Coady and Patson Daka. Cooper is expected to opt for a 4-2-3-1 system with Thomas Cannon leading the line. Leicester City can at least draw encouragement from their home record on opening day. The Foxes have gone unbeaten in nine instances when starting their season at home, winning six and drawing three. A heartening run for a club determined to establish themselves back in the Premier League.
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Source: Sportmonks
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