Leicester v Sheffield United preview: Can Foxes recover from disaster?

After an awful defeat, Leicester City host Sheffield United on Thursday night looking to get back on track ahead of the final three games of the season.

Following Sheffield United coming up on Thursday, Leicester City travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday before hosting Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season. Depending on the results of the Foxes and other teams, the clash at King Power Stadium could decide who finishes in the Champions League spot.

After the 4-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth, one of the worst in recent history, Leicester fans compared the result to the Troy Deeney play-off heartbreak. In addition to the 6-1 thrashing against Portsmouth in 2010 and the 5-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest back in 2009.

The second half performance at the Vitality Stadium has certainly postponed any chance of the Foxes reaching the CL presently. However, with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s men failing to defeat Southampton on Monday, City have been handed another lifeline to conclude this incredible season on a high.

However, Sheffield Utd won’t be easy to conquer. In fact, Brendan Rodgers‘ side’s final three games will all provide tough tests, with Leicester certainly facing the hardest run-in.

Chris Wilder’s team have surprised the entire country with their performances this season. They are an outfit still looking European football in the eye after their recent performances.

How tough the Blades will be for Leicester City

United are well known for their 5-3-2 formation, with the presence of the over-lapping centre-backs. Chris Wilder has organised his team with tactical ingenuity, skill, work ethic and organisation. Without those four things, the Blades don’t function.

Ever since Wilder arrived at the club, he has utilised three centre-halves, along with two patrolling wing-backs in his defensive line. This season, it has continued and caused major problems for the rest of the Premier League.

In recent games, Leicester fans have often complained about the number of high balls being played into Jamie Vardy against taller defenders. In the upcoming contest, it won’t be much different: with the three centre-backs and a commanding goalkeeper in Dean Henderson, City will struggle to win high balls. This may them to try and play through balls through the lines.

With Caglar Soyuncu suspended, it is likely that Ryan Bennett or Wes Morgan will be handed a starting place in the Leicester team. Whilst both are capable of playing out of defence, Utd are likely to press higher due to both not being as good as the Turkish defender.

It is likely that Rodgers will set his side up in a 4-1-4-1 or a diamond due to Soyuncu’s suspension. With this in mind, City are likely to attack mainly from the wings. This could benefit United. Against Chelsea; the Blades started with Sander Berge, Oliver Norwood and Ben Osborn in the centre of midfield. The two midfielders who are either side of the middle man often press wide, using the sidelines as an extra defender.

With all this in mind, Leicester must be on their A-game on Thursday. Wilder’s side will come to the East Midlands with more than one outlet of attack. With them generating overloads all across the field, often generating a single overload on one side and making it difficult for their opponents to counter-attack, the Foxes must use their possession to attack the Blades.

A win on Thursday and Champions League might be on once more. Anything but all three points could result in Leicester settling with just Europa League.