Under the watchful eye of incoming manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester City will endeavour to return to winning ways when they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The Bees and the Foxes meet for the first time since March 2023 when they played out a 1-1 draw in this exact fixture in the top flight.
Match preview
Brentford have made a name for themselves as one of this season's Premier League entertainers, as 44 goals were scored across the opening 11 games that they were involved in (22 for and 22 against). At least three goals were scored in nine of those 11 matches, while the net rippled twice in the remaining two.
However, the goals dried up at Goodison Park last weekend, as they shared the spoils with Everton in a 0-0 draw. Thomas Frank's side held on for a points despite seeing Christian Norgaard sent off towards the end of the first half - a dismissal that has since been overturned following a successful appeal.
With five wins, two draws and five defeats on the board after 12 matches, few will be surprised to see Brentford sitting 11th in the Premier League table, eight points clear of the relegation zone and only six points behind an out-of-form Man City side in second place.
As one of three Premier League teams, along with Crystal Palace and Southampton, who are yet to win on the road this season, Brentford will welcome a return to the Gtech Community Stadium where they have picked up 16 points from a possible 18 available, more than any other team across their first six home games this term.
Brentford are looking to win four Premier League home matches in a row for the first time this weekend, but they come up against a Leicester outfit whom they have failed to beat in each of their previous four top-flight meetings; the Bees have only faced Newcastle United (six) on more occasions without winning in the division.
Since winning the Championship title last season and securing promotion to the Premier League, Leicester have accumulated 10 points from their opening 12 fixtures, winning two, drawing four and losing six.
The Foxes were condemned to their third league loss in four matches last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at the King Power Stadium, a defeat that ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for head coach Steve Cooper, who - to the surprise of some - was relieved of his duties on Monday after just five months in charge.
It is understood that the decision to sack Cooper, who leaves Leicester sitting 16th in the top-flight standings and one point clear of the relegation zone, was taken due to increased concerns internally over Premier League safety and the team's performances in recent weeks, with a total of 14 goals conceded during a five-game winless run in all competitions.
Leicester have wasted no time in appointing a successor, as it was confirmed on Friday evening that former Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has penned a two-and-a-half-year contract, although the 48-year-old will begin his new role after Saturday's trip to Brentford, with first-team coach Ben Dawson to lead the Foxes at the Gtech.
Leicester have struggled on their travels as a Premier League club, as they have won just one of their last 13 top-flight games on the road. However, there is reason for the Foxes to be optimistic of success this weekend, as they are unbeaten in their last eight league games against Brentford (W5 D3), while they have not lost any of their last seven visits to the Bees in all competitions (W6 D1).
Team News
Brentford are still having to cope without Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry (both knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) and Kristoffer Ajer (foot), while Gustavo Nunes (back) is not yet ready to return, despite featuring in a behind-closed-doors game.
After seeing his red card from last weekend overturned, Norgaard is set to continue in midfield alongside Vitaly Yanelt and Mathias Jensen, while a back four of Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock and Keane Lewis-Potter could also remain intact.
Igor Thiago made his long-awaited debut for the Bees as a substitute against Everton and the summer signing from Club Brugge is in contention to feature again this weekend, although a start has been ruled out by Frank, so Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Mikkel Damsgaard should all continue in attack.
As for Leicester, it remains to see how they will line up under Dawson, but Abdul Fatawu (ACL), Ricardo Pereira (thigh) and Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle) all remain sidelined with injuries.
Harry Winks was forced off after just 11 minutes in the Foxes' defeat Chelsea with a groin injury and the midfielder is unlikely to recover in time for Saturday, so Oliver Skipp could be recalled to the first XI.
Facundo Buonanotte is available to return after serving a one-match ban last time out, and he could start either as an advanced midfield or on the right flank at the expense of Kasey McAteer, who was handed his first Premier League start last weekend.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa, Damsgaard
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Skipp, Ndidi, Soumare; Buonanotte, Vardy, Mavididi
We say: Brentford 2-1 Leicester City
While Brentford's home form has been exceptional, they have conceded 10 goals across their opening five league fixtures at the Gtech, where they will next face a Leicester side who have netted in all but one of their away matches thus far.
Leicester's recent record against Brentford bodes well for Saturday's contest, but we are backing the Bees to put a sting in the tail of the Foxes for the first time as a Premier League club.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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