Foxes of Leicester
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This should be Brendan Rodgers’ main Leicester formation

By Dominic Wells

Harvey Barnes of Leicester City (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Harvey Barnes of Leicester City (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu (L) Jonny Evans (R) (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu (L) Jonny Evans (R) (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

There’s only two sides in the league that Rodgers should truly fear, Manchester City and Liverpool. In those games, a more cautious approach can have superb results, allow the opposition to control the ball, drag them out of position and into a high-line and use this space in transition. A perfect anecdote would be Aston Villa’s triumphant victory against Champions, Liverpool. I don’t necessarily think this was the issue of the high-line – like a lot of journalists and pundits have been saying, it was more personnel errors, but it’s a clear indication that the system used versus the Citizens could work against Liverpool.

Aside from those fixtures, the Foxes should remain confident in their flexible 4-1-4-1. It’s by far their most comfortable set-up and this adds assurance and confidence into their play. I wouldn’t delve too deeply into the loss against the Hammers, they’ve started deploying their 5-4-1 in a devastating fashion, the 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers adds further proof, but it’s difficult to analyse this formation and understanding how best to beat it, when they’ve only played three games in the system (prior to the game with us, it was only two matches).

Next up for the Foxes is Aston Villa. I worry that Rodgers saw the decimation of Liverpool from Dean Smith’s Villa and he’ll be wary to play the ball-controlling 4-1-4-1 – in case it leaves space for Ollie Watkins and Jack Grealish to exploit in transition. Instead, he should see the attacking positives to playing a transitional 4-3-3, having Harvey Barnes running at Matty Cash, whilst Ayoze Pérez drops into the half-space behind Douglas Luiz.

Related Story. Brendan Rodgers outlines Foxes' 2020/21 aspiration. light

To conclude, I think the Foxes look at their best in the 4-1-4-1/4-3-3, but have the resources and personnel at their disposal to fluctuate with other formations – when Rodgers sees fit. In my opinion, the wholesale formation changes should really only be for Manchester City and Liverpool, while games against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves, and Chelsea would require minor tweaks, rather than

formation switches.