Leicester City edged past Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday with a much-changed Foxes side beating the Championship team 1-0. Brendan Rodgers was likely saving his star men for the all-important Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Aston Villa tonight, with all to play for after the two sides drew 1-1 in the previous encounter. Possibly the most crucial member of the squad who will return to action is Ricardo Pereira, and his presence on the right channel will be vital if Leicester City are to reach a first final since 2000.
Only Rennes teen sensation Eduardo Camavinga has averaged more tackles per game in Europe’s top five leagues this season than Pereira’s 4.5 for the Foxes. The Portuguese international has become an expert in thwarting opposition attacks and regaining possession for Rodgers’ side, averaging 1.8 interceptions per match. The 26-year-old is expected to start against Dean Smith’s side, and one of his primary goals will probably be stopping Villa’s talisman, Jack Grealish. With regard to the rest of the Premier League, few other right-backs come close to matching the Leicester City player when it comes to their defensive contribution via tackles, yet he also carries a significant threat travelling forwards.
So far this campaign Pereira has scored three goals and provided two assists, which could see him eclipse his previous best return of two goals and six assists from last term. The only right-sided defender to have recorded a higher number of attacking contributions so far this term is Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has an astonishing ten assists, along with finding the back of the net twice. While Pereira may not be able to compete with the Englishman’s superhuman creative abilities, he eclipses the 21-year-old’s average number of interceptions and clearances to stake his claim as the division’s best defensive right back.
Against Villa, Pereira will need to use both his defensive and attacking talents to see off a determined opponent. Rodgers is likely to make sure that the 26-year-old’s number one priority is keeping Villa’s top scorer Grealish quiet, as he is by far the host’s most threatening player. But when he is presented with the opportunity to stretch the opposition defence and provide the Foxes with width, expect to see Pereira bomb forwards. With this in mind, his influence at both ends of the pitch could see Leicester City through to their first major final in two decades.
