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Villa vs. Leicester, Carabao Cup semi-final: Starting XI reaction

By Thomas Bradley Alderman

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: A general view prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on January 28, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: A general view prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on January 28, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: A general view prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on January 28, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: A general view prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on January 28, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Aston Villa host Leicester City in a huge match, a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. The aggregate scoreline is finely poised at 1-1.

If Brendan Rodgers can lead Leicester City to a first final at Wembley in 20 years in his first full campaign with the Foxes – then he will be a club favourite. If they lift the trophy, he will undoubtedly become a club legend.

The Carabao Cup isn’t quite as prestigious as the FA Cup and is certainly lesser than the Premier League, though it is still rightly coveted by some teams. Not to mention being an entry to European competition, namely the Europa League.

However, with league progress the Foxes are already well on course for Champions League qualification – the most prestigious cup in domestic football. While Leicester remain a transitional side, the overflowing quality, skill and determination has seen them dissolve the standard, established premiership order.

Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester City

Before the FA Cup fifth round or the top-flight run-in, Leicester City face a Midlands rival in the League Cup semi-final at Villa Park. Momentum is with the Villains but the King Power club is 13 places higher in their shared division.

Expect a flurry of goalmouth action, heroes, villains – excuse the pun – and a host of incidents. Away goals don’t count so the Birmingham outfit have no advantage but home.

Starting XI

Kasper Schmeichel (captain); Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, Ben Chilwell; Wilfred Ndidi; Youri Tielemans, James Maddison; Harvey Barnes, Ayoze Perez; and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Trending. Jesse Lingard still linked to Leicester – would he improve the team?. light

It’s a shame that Jamie Vardy is only on the bench, but we’re delighted to see as strong a line-up as possible without. Join us at @FoxesofLCFC for in-game updates with myself. And good luck to the Foxes. For more information on the game, go to lcfc.com.