Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Wow. The heavens have opened. For a moment there we could barely see the side of the pitch from the press box...

Dangerous! Blades left-back Enda Stevens finds his path forward blocked at the halfway line - so turns around and lumps it 50 yards towards his keeper Dean Henderson.

Henderson, who can't scamper across to reach it, is not amused. A rather unnecessary corner...

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The two Leicester full backs, Pereira and Chilwell, are the second best in the Premier League behind Alexander-Arnold and Robertson.

First sighter for Leicester. Kelechi Iheanacho, making his first Premier League start under Brendan Rodgers, wriggles into space on right side of the Villa box. He unleashes an angled drive which Ezri Konsa dives in to block.

Villa can't clear and the ball breaks to Jamie Vardy... straight at Tom Heaton.

Fairly low key and scrappy start in Newcastle with neither side taking control.

There's the glimpse of a promising moment for the hosts when they win possession high up the pitch but Jetro Willems' quick square ball is to no-one and Southampton clear.

An open start at Carrow Road. Neither side are going to sit back, I'd imagine. Stick a pound on 2-2.

Villa straight on the front foot. Anwar El Ghazi, back after an injury, flies down the right but Wesley is adjudged to have fouled a Leicester defender when the ball comes into the box.

Clinton Morrison
Former Crystal Palace striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The last two games have been really positive for Southampton: the biggest thing for them is consistency.

But they have so much talent and they should not be anywhere near the relegation zone.

They have a proven striker such as Danny Ings: to score 10 goals already in a team that is struggling is really good.

Let's get ready to rumble! Moments after we start at Newcastle and Norwich, the home side get the ball rolling - last, but no means least - in Birmingham.

The Villa and Leicester players solemnly stand on the centre circle, bowing their heads before the rest of the 40-odd thousand join in a minute's applause for title winning manager Ron Saunders.

Similar respects are paid at Carrow Road too.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Villa Park

What a roar as Jack Grealish - the Roy of the Rovers meets Peaky Blinder hometown hero - leads his side out. It’s hotting up on a brisk Midlands afternoon.

Brian Little and Gordon Cowans are among the Villa legends pitchside as the current crop walk out a suddenly-cloudy Villa Park.

The matchday co-ordinator has also given the nod to the skippers at St James' Park and Carrow Road to start their ringwalks.

Almost showtime...

Mark Scott
Match of the Day commentator

These two won automatic promotion together last season and, while Norwich took the Championship title ahead of Sheffield United, the Blades have adjusted better to life in the Premier League.

Norwich's defending at Southampton was again cause for concern, especially the way they were "bullied"at set pieces, but Daniel Farke took heart from their improvement in the second half and Teemu Pukki finding the net again.

Chris Wilder said he was okay with United's performance in their defeat by Newcastle, and their return of three points from the last four games isn't really a fair reflection of how they've played in those matches.

Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

It is fair to say that Steve Bruce's appointment in July was not met with universal approval on Tyneside.

However, Newcastle are performing better than expected, with just one defeat in their last six games. Bruce's team haven't lost at home in the league since the opening weekend.

This is a huge game for Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl, who can oversee three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time in the job.

Achieve that and the Austrian will feel he has turned a significant corner. Southampton don't have many happy memories of the long trip north, though - they have managed only one win at St James' Park in the last 22 years.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

Aston Villa are the latest to try and halt Leicester's incredible momentum. Seven league wins in a row, and 11 in 13 games, has the Foxes' levels of confidence and self belief off the scale.

Brendan Rodgers' work ethic throughout the whole club won't allow the foot to be taken off the pedal.

The Leicester boss will have noted how Villa pushed his former club Liverpool recently, their only defeat in six home matches.

Dean Smith feels his team should have more to show for their efforts; they've dropped 13 from winning positions already.

Villa will be fully aware of the fine margin for error against the best defence in the country.

Most of the fans are already in their seats in Birmingham, Newcastle and Norwich. As are our Match of the Day commentators. Up on that ice cold gantry. That's hear their thoughts before the players arrive...

Emotional scenes at Villa Park. Several banners - each with an image of former manager Ron Saunders, who died yesterday - are being held up by a number of fans lined up alongside the touchline.

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Robert Huth
Former Leicester defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

When you play against Jamie Vardy you almost have to kick him off the pitch.

He’s not intimidated by any defender and thrives under a physical challenge.

He’s a funny guy, does not take himself seriously but he loves competition.

He loves to look across the line and think: ‘let’s see who I can upset today’.

Villa's task today is a tough one. How do you stop Leicester? How do you stop Jamie Vardy?

The Foxes equalled their club record of seven consecutive top-flight victories, set in March 1963, with that late, late show against Everton last weekend.

And Vardy has scored in seven consecutive Premier League appearances, his best streak since a record 11-match run in 2015.

Proper striker.