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Leicester logo
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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


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