Leicester 0-2 Everton: Why Foxes dismal home record continued

Unfortunately, the biggest issue for Leicester City is a problem that’s not easy to fix or overcome. The Foxes seem to be quite fragile mentally, and allow negative moments in games to adjust the balance of play. For example, Richarlison’s weak attempt from the top-of-the-box shouldn’t have opened the scoring in the game, but it did, and Leicester City never recovered from that moment.

In just thirteen games this season, the Foxes have gone behind six times (46.2%). This stat alone isn’t damning, but when you consider that within those fixtures, Leicester have only taken points from two of those games, it does start to paint a bleak picture once behind. Even worse still, the four games where the Foxes couldn’t overcome a deficit were all played at home – against relatively “beatable” opposition in the majority; Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham, and Everton.

I’m aware that conceding the first goal is detrimental to every football team in world football, but Leicester City seem to lose all composure and combust. A very magnified example being the loss to Bournemouth in the twilight stages of last season, as soon as the score was levelled the Foxes lost all composure. This pattern is seemingly continuing into this campaign, and it’s worrying. I’m not expecting Leicester City to overcome adversity in every game they go behind, but I am expecting the free-flowing attacking football that prefaced the initial goal to remain – and it never seems to happen.

Next up is José Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, a side that have effectively perfected the deep-block this season and will truly maximise the few chances they receive through Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. I’d suggest this is the worst fixture the Foxes could face, a side willing to play with as little as 25% possession, but counter with quality and intent once they receive the ball, however, there’s always the argument that Leicester City will evolve a way of beating this system. Nevertheless, it will be a very tough test for Rodgers.

I’ve gone on record to say the Northern Irishman is one of the best managers in the world, particularly at setting his team up prior to a game. I’d be surprised if he hadn’t devised a way to deal with Spurs’ counterattacking prowess – as difficult as that may be. The return of Timothy Castagne, after eight weeks out with a hamstring injury, could be an essential piece of that solution. I have every confidence Leicester will surprise me again, I’m just hopeful it’s for the right reasons this time out.