LEICESTER, England — Leicester City will host Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium on Monday in the opening match of their 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with both sides looking to start strong amid injury concerns and the integration of new signings.
The match, scheduled for 20:00 BST, marks Tottenham’s second season under manager Ange Postecoglou, who led the team to a near-Champions League qualification in his debut year. Spurs will be eager to improve on that performance and secure a top-four finish this season.
Tottenham’s record signing Dominic Solanke, acquired from Bournemouth after scoring 19 Premier League goals last season, is nursing a minor foot injury. However, Postecoglou has hinted at the possibility of Solanke starting. If unavailable, Dejan Kulusevski may feature as a false nine, a role he has played in pre-season matches.
James Maddison is expected to face his former club for the first time since joining Tottenham, while new signing Archie Gray could make his debut. Yves Bissouma has been suspended by the club for this match following an off-field incident.
Leicester City, returning to the top flight after winning the Championship title, face their own challenges. The Foxes have replaced manager Enzo Maresca with Steve Cooper and could potentially face a points deduction. They enter the season following underwhelming pre-season performances.
Cooper’s side will likely be without four players, including forwards Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka, both doubtful with minor injuries. This could lead to a surprise start for Tom Cannon. Goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk is out long-term after surgery, and center-back Conor Coady will miss at least the next three to four weeks.
New signings Caleb Okoli, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and Facundo Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, may make their competitive debuts for Leicester.
Recent history favors Tottenham, who have won four of the last five meetings between the teams. However, Leicester won their most recent encounter at the King Power Stadium 4-1 in February 2023.
The match will be officiated by referee Chris Kavanagh, with David Coote serving as VAR.
As both teams navigate early-season challenges and integrate new personnel, this opener could set the tone for their respective campaigns in what promises to be another competitive Premier League season.
