The enormity of Bournemouth’s trip to Leicester City this Saturday (3pm kick-off) has been revealed – with the foundations being laid following a 3-0 defeat for the Cherries at Liverpool.
The King Power Stadium clash is potentially a huge game for both clubs, albeit for very different reasons. While City are still looking for their first win of the season and are languishing just outside the Premier League drop zone, Bournemouth beat Southampton on Monday to move up to 11th with two wins, two draws and two defeats.
One of those losses was inflicted by Liverpool on September 21, and Cherries assistant boss Tommy Elphick has revealed how planning for the Leicester clash – and the Saints match too – was begun in the bowels of Anfield.
Reflecting on Bournemouth’s 3-1 home win over the Saints, he said: “After the start we’ve had, these two games [Southampton and Leicester] are massive.
“They were built up to us the minute we walked in the door after the Liverpool game, that they were two massive opportunities to go into the break – you could be looking up the table or down the table after these two games.”
Referring specifically to Saturday’s clash, he added: “We saw the spirit and the fight they [Leicester] showed to come back from two down against one of the best teams in the country [at Arsenal], so it’s going to be another stern test.
“But the chance is there for us to get to this next break with a decent tally. And I think with the way we play and the style we play, we always look to go and win games, no matter who it is.”
While City are still smarting over the manner of their defeat at the Emirates, when key refereeing decisions failed to go their way, the Bournemouth game represents a realistic chance for Steve Cooper and Co to finally claim that first win – something that was always a tall order at Arsenal.
It will be followed by games against Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, so the Foxes are potentially facing a make-or-break phase of their season already, so will be keen to kick it off with some sort of return from the Cherries visit.
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