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Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 9, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Aston Villa logo

4-0

Barnes (40', 85'), Vardy (63' pen., 79')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Brendan Rodgers insists Leicester not out for "revenge" against Villa

Brendan Rodgers insists Leicester not out for
© Reuters
Villa defeated the Foxes on January 28 in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers insists the Premier League clash against Aston Villa is not a revenge mission for his side.

Monday night's opponents inflicted heartache on the Foxes a few weeks ago by denying them a trip to Wembley in the Carabao Cup, with Trezeguet's injury-time goal sealing victory for Villa and sending them to the final.

Rodgers revealed that reaching the final of that competition was something Leicester had targeted at the beginning of the campaign.

However, he insists the Foxes' only focus now is achieving another of their pre-season goals – qualifying for the Champions League.

"No, no revenge," said Rodgers. "We played well in the league game there but in the semi-final Villa played very well and deserved to go through.

"In general in the games, we dominated. But they defended very well. We didn't take our opportunities in the first leg and in the second leg, their keeper made three fantastic saves.

"We set six targets at the beginning of the season and one was to get to the final of the League Cup, we didn't quite make it. Now, we are entering the last 10 games of the season and our other targets remain very much on track.

"Naturally any team – if you're in this position – will want to finish in a Champions League position."

While Leicester are hoping to qualify for Europe's premier club competition, Villa are fighting for their lives towards the bottom of the Premier League table.

Rodgers insists league position counts for little at this stage of the season, saying: "In this period, whoever you're playing on paper, it doesn't matter.

"You get to this stage of the season, teams are going to be fighting for their lives. Every team is going to be pushing with a purpose and that's no different to us.

"Villa have some very talented players and we know it will be another tough game. But really it's about how we can hurt Aston Villa and we know that if we can bring our best game, we have a good chance of winning."

Jamie Vardy is expected to return to the Leicester squad on Monday night.

The striker, who has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, has missed the last two matches with a calf injury but Rodgers is optimistic he will have his talisman back in contention.

While Vardy's return will come as an undoubted boost, Leicester may be dealt a blow by the absence of left-back Ben Chilwell as he is nursing a hamstring problem.

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2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
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12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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