Aston Villa will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Leicester City to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

Steven Gerrard's side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, while Leicester played out a 2-2 draw with Southampton on the same night.

Match preview

Villa have shown huge improvement under the management of Gerrard, with the former Liverpool captain winning his first two matches at the helm at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and away to Crystal Palace.

There were also plenty of positive signs in Wednesday's clash with Man City at Villa Park, but the English champions ultimately left with all three points courtesy of a 2-1 success.

Villa have won five, drawn one and lost eight of their 14 Premier League matches this season, which has left them in 13th position in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Only Watford (nine) have actually lost more top-flight matches than the Lions, which is an indication of the size of the task facing Gerrard, who will be desperate to deliver a positive result ahead of next weekend's huge game at his former employers Liverpool.

Villa have lost two of their last three Premier League matches against Leicester, though, including a 2-1 defeat in the corresponding match at Villa Park last season.

Leicester, meanwhile, will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Southampton on Wednesday night; the Foxes twice had to come from behind at St Mary's, with James Maddison's effort shortly after the half-time interval proving enough to secure a share of the spoils.

Brendan Rodgers's side were expected to once again challenge for a top-four spot this season, but they have struggled for consistency in the league, winning five, drawing four and losing five of their 14 matches, which has left them down in 10th position in the table on 19 points.

Leicester are only five points off fourth-placed West Ham United, though, and have now only lost one of their last six matches in all competitions, which includes two Europa League fixtures.

The Foxes are currently top of Group C ahead of next week's huge game away to Napoli, and there is no question that Rodgers will be thinking about the contest in Naples.

The FA Cup holders cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in the Premier League, though, as they bid to stay in touch with fourth position entering the festive period.

Team News

Villa boss Gerrard revealed during Friday's press conference that Leon Bailey is facing a number of weeks on the sidelines with a muscle injury, but Danny Ings will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness over the next 24 hours or so before a final decision on his involvement is made.

Bertand Traore and Trezeguet will again be unavailable, but Matt Targett should be cleared after a head injury to line up at left-back once again.

Ashley Young could come in for Bailey in the final third of the field, but there are not expected to be changes elsewhere, with Ollie Watkins again set to lead the line for the home team.

As for Leicester, both Youri Tielemans and James Justin are making strong progress in their injury recoveries, but neither player is expected to be available for selection in this match.

Maddison is available despite picking up a minor issue against Southampton, and the England international should again operate as the number 10 for the Foxes.

Rodgers could make a couple of changes from the side that started on Wednesday, though, with Ayoze Perez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall potentially coming into the first XI.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Nakamba, Luiz; Buendia, McGinn, Young; Watkins

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Castagne, Evans, Soyuncu, Thomas; Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Perez, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

We say: Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester City

Both of these sides will believe that they should be higher up the league table at this stage, and it is a very important match in the context of their seasons. A case can be made for a home or an away win, but we just have a feeling that a tight match between two good teams will finish level.

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