For the past two Premier League games, Brendan Rodgers has decided to mix up his starting eleven and bring Kelechi Iheanacho back from the fringes of the Leicester City squad. While it worked spectacularly against Aston Villa, as the former Manchester City player scored, it was not so effective in the Foxes stalemate with Norwich City. When Leicester line up against Manchester City on Saturday, as second face third, Rodgers must drop the ex-Manchester City man.
No other English side have averaged more possession than Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League this season, while they have also had the highest pass accuracy, a laser-guided 88.6 per cent of passes reach their intended target. Furthermore, the Sky Blues have fired off more shots than any other Premier League club per game, averaging a phenomenal 20.6. If Leicester City are to beat them, then they will have to revert to their former ways.
Iheanacho must drop to the bench to facilitate a deep-lying midfield five, with Wilfred Ndidi playing the crucial role of protecting the defence. So far this season no one in the Premier League has done it better than the Nigerian, he is second only to teammate Ricardo Pereira for tackles, and leads the league for interceptions.
As they played in the win over Watford, the Foxes should line-up in a four, one, four, one formation giving them more cover defensively due to the tighter gaps between the defence and midfield. Harvey Barnes and Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy can also provide the pace in behind Manchester City to hit the champions with rapid counter-attacks after soaking up the pressure. It is a reversion to Leicester’s former tactical dynamic, but they are unlikely to beat the Cityzen’s playing the way Rodgers currently has them set up, even if they are above them in the table.
Failing to remove Iheanacho from the starting eleven could spell big trouble for Leicester City, they are likely to be overrun in midfield and concede too many chances to their free-scoring opposition. Losing the game would see Guardiola’s side hot on the Foxes heel’s just a point behind, while a win would open up a gap between third and second.
