After a couple of winless games, Leicester will hope to get back to winning ways when they take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Now is perhaps the best time to take on the Sky Blues as the fixtures will start piling up and their squad has been hit by injuries as well.
Leicester’s biggest problem right now is Riyad Mahrez. After a failed deadline day move, Mahrez hasn’t been included in the squad for the last two games and won’t be facing City, a side who were interested in signing him about a week ago.
Manager Claude Puel was quoted saying, “I hope he can get his head right and come back with us and work hard. The best way is to come back and enjoy his football.
“Riyad is a magnificent player. He loves football, he loves his relationship with his team-mates, he enjoys his football. I think he needs to come back, to play and touch the ball.
“He loves his football, it is important he comes back.”
Leicester usually put up a good fight against Man City and their recent results have shown that. Though they have lost the last three games in all competitions against Guardiola’s side, they have run City close, which could be the case again come Saturday.
City’s resources have been stretched of late and they have a Champions League tie away to FC Basel, so their focus might not entirely be on the game considering they are 13 points clear at the top.
Here’s how Puel’s side could line up against the league leaders…
Defence
With Wes Morgan still out injured, we could once again see the combination of Aleksandar Dragovic and Harry Maguire. While the former is slowly picking up his form, the latter has been pretty good this season. The duo will need to step up against the City attack if they hope to get something out of the game, however.
Ben Chilwell could replace Christian Fuchs on the left as the former has more pace, something that might come in handy against Bernardo Silva. Danny Simpson is expected to keep his place on the right. Kasper Schmeichel will start in between the sticks.
Midfield
The two-man midfield will have to rise to the occasion as City are expected to start Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne. Adrien Silva could be dropped for Vicente Iborra. The Spaniard will most likely partner Wilfried Ndidi and attempt to stop the free-flowing Man City attack at the Etihad.
The width will be provided by Demarai Gray and Marc Albrighton. The two will have to make the best use of the counter-attacks.
Attack
Shinji Okazaki’s work rate could’ve come in handy against Man City, but a knee injury means he won’t start. Kelechi Iheanacho, a former Man City player could start once again. Jamie Vardy will be the biggest threat to Man City’s defence.