Bournemouth v Leicester preview: Jamie Vardy in race to be fit

Both Bournemouth and Leicester will be hoping to get their season moving in the right direction when they meet at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Bournemouth are 19th in the Premier League having taken just three points from their opening six matches, while Leicester are sitting just above the relegation zone following four games without a win, most recently a 2-3 defeat to Liverpool.

The Cherries have taken just 25 points from 25 games in 2017, the joint-worst record alongside Crystal Palace, and Eddie Howe's men have conceded 145 league goals since promotion in 2015 - the most of any Premier League side in that period.

Meanwhile, Leicester have won just two of their last 24 Premier League away games after drawing 1-1 against Huddersfield earlier this month. This is after having the best record on the road in the league when they won the division in 2016.

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Team news

Leicester are keeping an eye on the fitness of Jamie Vardy.

The striker has been managing a hip problem and only trained for the first time this week on Thursday, but is expected to be available against the Cherries.

Defender Robert Huth, who underwent ankle surgery in the summer, and midfielder Matty James (Achilles) remain out.

Bournemouth look set to be without midfielder Harry Arter again because of an Achilles problem.

Dan Gosling is also a doubt after taking a heavy knock towards the end of the defeat at Everton and will be assessed.

Defender Tyrone Mings has a back problem, while forward Callum Wilson has resumed some training following his long-term knee injury.

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Match stats

• Bournemouth are unbeaten in all four Premier League meetings with Leicester City (W1 D3 L0).
• Leicester are one of three Premier League sides that Bournemouth have faced without losing - they've also never lost to Brighton (P1 W1 D0 L0) and Swansea (P4 W3 D1 L0).
• This is also Bournemouth's lowest points tally after six Premier League games (3) - in both 2015-16 and 2016-17 they had won seven points at this stage.
• Bournemouth have allowed their opponents 12 shots inside their six-yard box so far this season; more than any other Premier League team.
• Vardy has had a hand in 16 goals (13 goals, three assists) in 19 Premier League appearances under Craig Shakespeare for Leicester City.
• Jermain Defoe has scored in 135 different Premier League matches during his career - the only players to have scored in more are Alan Shearer (190), Wayne Rooney (153), Andrew Cole (149) and Frank Lampard (149).

Merson's prediction

Bournemouth were excellent for spells at Everton but in the end came up short. Defoe had a brilliant chance to make it 2-0 and that would have been game, set and match - but Everton managed to turn it around and that would have frustrated Howe.

However, they are back at the Vitality Stadium this weekend against a Leicester side who have not really hit their straps yet. I watched them against Huddersfield a few weeks back and in the end I thought they were fortunate to get a point. They are struggling.

Therefore, I can see Bournemouth just edging a home win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Leicester are Sky Bet's 7/5 favourites for the victory with Bournemouth priced at 9/5 while the draw is a 5/2 chance. Vardy heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 followed by Defoe at 9/2, with both strikers to find the net priced at 9/2.

Bournemouth v Leicester is included in this weekend's Super 6 line-up, with £250,000 up for grabs again.

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