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Is history repeating for the promoted sides?published at 14:15 6 January
14:15 6 January
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
There is still a way to go, but it is looking a remarkably similar story for the three promoted sides this season as it was last season.
Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have taken just 35 points from 59 games between them – the exact same amount of points Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United had on this day last year who ended up being the worst promoted trio in PL history.
Southampton being the worst-side ever at this stage does not help, but it is uncanny how similar not just points total is, but also how similar their goal differences are to last year's trio.
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:11 6 January
Sam: Much better in the second half! It's encouraging to see players like Emi Buendia back on the pitch with Tyrone Mings also coming into form. Our challenge is to try and ensure consistency across the 90 minutes, but to be four points off fourth is a sign of how far Unai Emery has taken us. Let's hope this encourages some of our fans to be more positive.
Alex: It will do, considering we are missing some of our key players like Morgan Rogers, Jhon Duran and Pau Torres. A massive goal for Bailey, he desperately needed that. Barkley with an incredible performance and finish! A good three points to get back on track and start 2025.
Jay: Very laboured and we should have put them out of sight before they scored. Villa's second string are not looking strong or creative again. I'm particularly upset about no clean sheet again. There was a poor lay-off from Ollie Watkins - just to add to his bad finishing - and then Matty Cash compounded his own bad game by not charging at Stephy Mavididi.
Cassie: Deserved win but Villa still need a striker to put the ball in the back of the net. Mings showed his class today, just like Ross Barkley. At times, Villa showed too much lack of desire to finish off the game. I don't think Emery knows who his best 11 players are.
Leicester fans
James: A lack of quality in the attacking third, specifically Mavididi, and a costly mistake at the back by James Justin resulted in another defeat. The rot has now carried through into another year. A new right-back, winger and striker are urgently needed in January, otherwise the Championship and the dark abyss beckons.
JB: There has got to be a message sent out to players that if you can't safely play the ball out of the back, clear it upfield! You give up potential possession but alleviate the chances of losing the ball in your box and conceding a possible goal, hence the second goal. Going down it seems and we won't be straight back up either. Perhaps just as well. We need a complete rebuild, including the manager and maybe new owners. It appears to have grown stale. Keep the faith.
Paul: Same old! Justin needs to be taken out of the firing line. The amount of goals that come down our right side is embarrassing.
Tony: Five losses in a row. This is beyond a joke. I thought the idea of a new manager was to improve?
Emery 'the coolest person inside Villa Park' as Foxes 'lacked cutting edge'published at 09:41 6 January
09:41 6 January
Ben Mundy Final Score reporter at Villa Park
Image source, Getty Images
On face value, Saturday's result at Villa Park went with form.
Aston Villa extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 10 games, while Leicester City succumbed to their fifth straight defeat.
But after the game, as I sat in the bumper-kissing traffic waiting to get on to the M6, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the Foxes.
They played well in large parts but just lacked a clear cutting edge. And yes I know Jamie Vardy was playing, but he barely touched the ball in the first half.
If Ruud van Nistelrooy's side are to avoid the drop, they will need more than a solitary goal threat.
Leicester and their manager almost executed the perfect gameplan. Sitting in and defending the edge of their box in the first half, emerging a minute earlier than Villa after half-time and starting the second period on the front foot.
But defensive frailties, notably tackling and clearing lines, proved their undoing.
If - and it is a big if - they can find the goals and fix those frailties, Leicester might just have enough to stay up. They clearly have a manager with a plan.
Aston Villa certainly do as well. There was no panic from Unai Emery on Saturday. He cut the coolest person inside Villa Park, despite having to wait an hour for an opening goal.
Striker Ollie Watkins told me before the game that he wanted Villa's 2025 to be a continuation of their 2024 exploits.
On this evidence, his New Year's resolution will be achieved.
Foxes must 'scrap and pick up points' after 'another game struck off' - Stowellpublished at 07:42 6 January
07:42 6 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Leicester City goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell says Ruud van Nistelrooy's side need to stamp out their "individual errors" if they want to stay in the Premier League.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast after the Foxes were beaten 2-1 at Aston Villa - a fifth straight defeat - Stowell said: "You absolutely can't gift goals to other teams.
"Leicester played for 94 minutes at a really decent level, yet two individual moments cost them and that won't be good enough to stay in the Premier League, if it continues.
"It is the team that holds their nerve most [that are going to survive relegation]. You have got to scrap and pick up points.
"Sometimes you can't come to Villa Park, play brilliantly and get three points - but you can come here, be dogged in a scruffy game and pick up one point.
"It is a tally to get to that magical 36 or 37 points, which will keep you in the league, but that is another game struck off now.
"There are now 18 games to get themselves another 22 points."
'It is disappointing we didn't take anything from this game'published at 18:49 4 January
18:49 4 January
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to Match of the Day following the defeat at Villa Park: "We were on course to get something out of this game. The first goal was a corner in the second-phase shot. The second goal, we lost the ball ourselves in a place where we shouldn't.
"Overall, we controlled the game and didn't give big chances away. That is why it is disappointing we didn't take anything from this game.
"It was a difficult one, but we have to make sure we get these performances and convert them into points as well.
"We knew from last week against Manchester City that we were in the game and pushing for points. In that sense, if we can maintain the level then we should convert it into points."
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Key statpublished at 18:06 4 January
18:06 4 January
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City have lost five successive Premier League games for the first time since September 2022 (6), keeping just one clean sheet in their last 21 matches in the competition (a 1-0 win v Bournemouth in October).
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Foxes lose attacking stylepublished at 17:44 4 January
17:44 4 January
Charlotte Coates BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Ruud Van Nistelrooy got off to a dream start as Leicester boss when they picked up a 3-1 win at home to West Ham before coming from 2-0 down to take a superb point against Brighton.
Since those two games, it has all been downhill for the Dutchman as they slumped to their fifth loss on the spin in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy has attempted to sure up his Leicester defence but that has come at the expense of some attacking flair while still conceding 14 goals in their last five games.
Jamie Vardy was starved of service at Villa Park and was often up front on his own and was given no support when pressing the Villa backline.
Van Nistelrooy seems to be searching for answers for a way in which he can stop his side conceding while also proving a threat in attack.
With the second half of the season now under way, Leicester need to pick up points and pick them up fast if they are to avoid another campaign in the Championship next year.
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:56 4 January
Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v Leicesterpublished at 11:18 4 January
11:18 4 January
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Aston Villa will be kicking themselves after conceding a late equaliser against Brighton.
I don't see Villa slipping up here, though, even without suspended duo Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers. Ollie Watkins will lead the line for them again - he has the jersey and will be looking to show why he should keep it when Duran is back from his ban.
Villa are strong at home while Leicester's away form is poor, with only one win and two draws from nine games on the road. They are in a relegation scrap and they are going to struggle to stay up.
The Foxes played pretty well against Manchester City last time out, and missed some good chances, but they still lost,
That defeat was their fourth in a row, and I am expecting Villa to make it five.
McCabe's prediction: 0-2
I am not sure about this one. There is a bit of a Midlands rivalry there, and I reckon Leicester might surprise a few people.
Who is most likely to be relegated?published at 17:54 3 January
17:54 3 January
As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.
But who is looking most likely to be playing their football outside the top flight next season?
It is bad news for fans of the teams who made their return to the Premier League this campaign.
According to the Opta Supercomputer's simulations, Southampton - rooted to the bottom of the table on just six points - are all but guaranteed to be playing Championship football again next term with a 99.47% chance of being relegated.
The picture is also not a rosy one for Leicester City and Ipswich Town supporters, who occupy the other two relegation spots. The Supercomputer does not see too much change there - the Foxes and the Tractor Boys having a 74.61% and 70.81% chance of relegation respectively.
It is better news for Wolves under new head coach Vitor Pereira, with Wanderers now having only a 39.21% chance of a Championship return, while Everton fans will be pleased to see they have just a 12.52% chance as they hope to see Premier League football in their new stadium next season.
Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford can all breathe easier with Opta predicting just a 1.68%, 0.81% and 0.72% chance of relegation respectively.
And what about Manchester United after new boss Ruben Amorim declared them to be facing a relegation battle? Well, it is good news for Red Devils fans as the chance of them actually playing Championship football next campaign is just 0.11%.
Transfer window 'make or break' for survival - Heathpublished at 12:02 3 January
12:02 3 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Leicester City defender Matt Heath says the January transfer window "is going to be make or break" for the Foxes as they face the second half of the season battling relegation.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Heath said: "We have got ourselves into a position where we are not too far away from safety, so a couple of good additions to the squad could be just what is needed to push Leicester over the line."
Foxes' boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said on Thursday that his team "needs help and improvement" and his plans are "aligned" with the owners. He did, however, refuse to comment on which areas of the pitch he hopes to strengthen.
"Van Nistelrooy doesn't want to speak about targets out loud, which is fair enough, as that poses a risk of people nabbing our targets or there being upset within the squad," Heath said.
"We need an attacking winger with a bit of pace and directness because we have lost Abdul Fatawu for the rest of the season.
"We need a little bit of quality and someone with a bit more experience. It needs to be someone who can go into the starting XI rather than just a squad player.
"I look at Crystal Palace, Everton and Wolves, who are around us and they do all have a couple of talismanic players - for example, Eberechi Eze and Dwight McNeil. We lack that one person who can be our creative talisman."
Aston Villa v Leicester: Did you know?published at 09:15 3 January
09:15 3 January
Image source, Getty Images
Following their 2-1 win at King Power Stadium in August, Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Leicester since 2003-04.
🎧 Foxes' shopping listpublished at 07:56 3 January
07:56 3 January
The latest When You're Smiling podcast has landed.
Leicester City start 2025 in the Premier League relegation zone but Ruud van Nistelrooy will now have the chance to strengthen his squad during the transfer window.
BBC Radio Leicester's Jack Rafferty is joined by former Foxes defender Matt Heath to discuss what areas need the most attention and who could be realistic targets as profit and sustainability Rules continue to loom over the club's head.
They also speak to fan Paul Sherwood ahead of Saturday's trip to Villa Park.
Gossip: Foxes consider Udinese's Kristensenpublished at 07:36 3 January
07:36 3 January
Leicester, Tottenham and Bayer Leverkusen are competing for the signing of Udinese's 22-year-old Danish defender Thomas Kristensen. (Football Insider), external
Meanwhile, Leicester are among several clubs considering a move for Manchester United's English left-back Harry Amass, 17. (Mail, external)
Van Nistelrooy on team news, transfer window and Aston Villapublished at 12:23 2 January
12:23 2 January
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Jordan Ayew will be available following suspension and Van Nistelrooy is hopeful centre-back Wout Faes will return as he is set to re-join group training from today.
Kasey McAteer "is doing better" and although Saturday's game "comes too soon," featuring in the FA Cup game against QPR is realistic.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen "has been assessed over the last week" but remains "at least a few weeks away" from returning.
On whether Van Nistelrooy has backing from the club in the January transfer window: "When I came in, we assessed the current squad. I wanted to see how it was working and then look ahead to the window. We were aligned right from the start and clear on looking at certain options to strengthen the team. The team needs help and improvement."
He would not disclose which areas he is targeting but did concede "injuries play a part" in decision making.
Loan players Odsonne Edouard and Facundo Buonanotte are expected to remain at Leicester and not be recalled by their parent clubs.
On using his contacts to bring in players, including from Manchester United: "Yeah, of course I am looking at my network having played in a couple of countries at different clubs. We are looking at all possibilities to help this team reach their targets. We are looking everywhere."
Reflecting on the defeat by Manchester City: "Good performances will help to get results, but we have to make sure we get those points. We need to maintain this level of performance and look at the details in the final third to ensure that we score more."
On opponents Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery: "He is doing an excellent job. There is quality there and they are really building into a big stable club. They will still have a top team [regardless of their injury list], so it is for us to be prepared to face them."
'Keep clean sheets' and 'January signings will be crucial'published at 12:49 1 January
12:49 1 January
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you to tell us what Leicester City's New Year's resolution should be.
Here are some of your replies:
Tom: We need a new manager who knows about the Premier League, Ruud van Nistelrooy is lost!
Kiran: Just to survive.
Mike: We need to survive and, with the way that Leicester are playing under our new manager, I believe we will do that. Getting our existing players to play well together is the biggest priority, the points will come. Unfortunately, we do have injuries so cover in a few positions is needed. Hopefully, the transfer window will mean that our manager gets the players that he wants, that will fit in with his vision, rather than a few random makeshift players.
Andrew: To keep clean sheets. We won't win games if we keep conceding first, which we seem to do on a regular basis.
Lily: Bring back Kasper Schmeichel.
Jay: January signings will be crucial for survival. A new centre-back, central midfielder and striker would be very nice. Hopefully Ruud can keep us up.
Sam: Signing one player isn't going to solve all our problems but one resolution should be to bring in another right-back. Justin has been disappointing this year defensively and, when the manager is taking him off at 70 minutes when 1-0 behind, it suggests Van Nistelrooy thinks so too.
Jenson: To get at least one new centre-back and a new striker who can put a ball in the back of the net.
Michael: With the exception of Mads Hermansen, clear the lot out. Absolute rubbish the lot of them. One of the worst teams with no drive, no idea and no plan. I'm afraid, although a gem, Vardy is past his best. He is just running from one defender to another, no wonder he can't play a string of games together because he wears himself out.
James: Get Jon Rudkin out of our club and all of our worries will be gone!
2024 breakdown: Who takes the plaudits?published at 16:42 31 December 2024
16:42 31 December 2024
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
It has been another entertaining year in the Premier League, so with 2025 just a matter of hours away let's take a look at the clubs that have topped the charts.
Manchester City became history makers in 2024 as they sealed their fourth successive Premier League title in May and their sixth in seven seasons.
Pep Guardiola's possession based football continued to dominate as they maintained the ball for an average of 64.5% per game and had a 90.6% passing accuracy over the year.
Brighton were the closest to matching their accuracy at 87.5% and Ange Postecoglou's similar high-risk football saw Tottenham retain 61.3% possession.
Under Jurgen Klopp and new head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool scored 92 goals in 2024 which is three more than Arsenal and nine greater than City.
The Reds registered 741 shots in total, which is a stark contrast to Leicester City who recorded the least with 170. Albeit that is only since their promotion back to the top-flight in the summer.
Of those shots, 286 of Liverpool's were on target. But it is Thomas Frank's Brentford that have proven to be the most clinical.
The Bees had a conversion rare of 15.3% after scoring 62 goals in the Premier League. Yoane Wissa found the back of the net 17 times, while Bryan Mbuemo registered 12 goals.
From goal scoring to conceding - West Ham turned over the most goals with 79.
They should look to North London for tips on how to tighten up their defence as Arsenal proved to be the most solid across all aspects of their back line.
The Gunners conceded just 25 goals across the course of the year and kept an impressive 18 clean sheets.
Sean Dyche's Everton, renowned for being stubborn to break down, kept 14 clean sheets despite only winning eight of their 36 games.
All stats are supplied by Opta
🎧 'Another rollercoaster year'published at 15:15 31 December 2024
15:15 31 December 2024
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.
Hear from Foxes' midfielder Will Alves as Owynn, Pipes and Leicester fan Kate look back on 2024.
Stick with 'out-of-form' Justin or 'give Choudhury a go'?published at 15:30 30 December 2024
15:30 30 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City have conceded 42 goals in the Premier League so far this season, a joint league high alongside Wolves, and let in two more in their defeat by Manchester City.
On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, former Foxes winger Matt Piper discusses Ruud van Nistelrooy's full-back options.
"I do like Victor Kristiansen. He is energetic, he has got all the passion and endeavour, he gets up and down the pitch - but he just lacks quality in certain situations, especially against top wingers.
"James Justin has obviously proven that he has the level to be really good at Premier League level previously, but he is just in a really low moment. We saw some heavy touches and his decision-making is a little off.
"I'm pretty positive that the only reason why he remains in this team is because there is no other real option [at right-back]. I would give Hamza Choudhury a go and take a chance on him.
"I think a player in form, that can deputise well at that position, will give the whole team much more confidence.
"Justin is just prone to mistakes at the minute. That's why I thought that Choudhury would have started at Anfield, and why I thought he would start against Manchester City.
"We didn't lose the game because of James Justin - I will make that clear - but if Ruud has a little bit of money to spend in January, I think looking at both full-back areas would be a wise decision."
Image source, Getty Images
