How Leicester City should approach their next two games

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 29: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Interim Manager of Manchester United celebrates his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on January 29, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

How Leicester City can expose Manchester United

Manchester United, since sacking “The Special One”, have been on a tear in the Premier League. Under the legendary Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United have won six of their seven Premier League matches and convincingly so. Players like Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, and Anthony Martial have looked like new signings since the managerial switch, and with 15 matches left in the league, they are looking good to challenge for a top four finish at the minimum.

But their attacking setup under Solskjaer is also their weakness at times. Sometimes the fullbacks Ashley Young and Luke Shaw, get caught too far up the field, which leaves them exposed at the back when teams are able to counter-attack. This is where Leicester are at their strongest. Players like Mendy and Choudhury will be vital in this aspect, picking off passes and sending players like Demarai Gray, Maddison, Albrighton and Jamie Vardy on their way. With only Victor Lindelof, Phile Jones and Chris Smalling at the back, Leicester will easily be able to beat them for pace as Shaw and Young scramble to get back.

In addition, Martial and Rashford love inverted runs. If Leicester are able to stop them getting inside and force them wide, the two forwards will be less effective for the visitors on Sunday. Leicester should start the game in a 4-3-3 formation with Chilwell, Jonny Evans, Maguire, and Danny Simpson forming the back four. The midfield three should be Choudhury and Mendy as defensive midfielders and Maddison in a more advanced role. Albrighton and Pereira should be on the left and right wings with Vardy up front. This formation gives plenty of cover to Chilwell and Simpson because of Albrighton and Pereira’s presence up the flanks.

If Leicester are down at some point in the second-half, Puel can always bring on Gray or Harvey Barnes for Simpson and shift Pereira to right-back to inject some more pace into the side. Youri Tielemans is another interesting option, who many might want to start, but if Puel is smart, he lets the young Belgian adapt to the Premier league by giving him about 30 minutes against Manchester United and then going from there.

If Puel’s men are to get a result against United, they will have to sit deep and defend and break out on the break to punish high-flying Red Devils, but if they have another slow start, Puel would have to answer his critics yet again after the full-time whistle.

Score prediction: 1-1.