Leicester v Sheffield Utd: Foxes taking a blade to the Blades

The return of Dennis Praet?

Let’s be honest now Leicester supporters: we have not been that bad, as much as individual performances may have been lethargic, passionless, or even abysmal. The vast majority of attacking displays have been just what Brendan Rodgers would have wanted: a possession-hungry, patient, and pacey counter-attacking team game.

This is the style of our fantastic manager. The possession formation – the 4-3-3 – and the defensive formation – the 4-4-2 – have worked a charm when the whole team has been fit. From the constant recycling of possession, to the smart movements of creative players creating space for runners, the Foxes are dangerous.

However, Leicester has been very unlucky with injuries. A long term injury to Dennis Praet, injuries to James Maddison, Ayoze Perez, Harvey Barnes, Cengiz Under, and the sale of Demarai Gray, have cut the creative and pacey backbone which makes the 4-3-3 formation work well.

There is good news though. Sidnei Tavares put in an impressive first Premier League starting appearance, almost grabbing a wonder goal were it not for a wonder save against Brighton & Hove Albion. Tavares has great potential, and should really start against Sheffield.

Also, courtesy of BBC Sport, we know that ‘Ayo’ Evans, and Dennis Praet should be available. Dennis has been out for some time, so do not expect him to start the match, but do expect him to feature from the bench to get him some game time.

Next season should also improve upon the depth element to the crisis, with players such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Kamal Sowah returning from their respective loan clubs high on form, though many will return on loan, these two should not.

A creative inside forward – Perez – and a technically gifted attacking midfielder – Tavares – are available, and will be important if the Foxes are to succeed against the Blades.

Over the course of the season, Leicester City have an xG (expected goals) of 40.41, actually scoring 48. There is a major element of luck in these stats. Scoring so many more is due to wonderful displays of skill, despite the lower number of shots which tend to be created in a match.

This is crucial. Despite not creating that many opportunities on goal, they tend to be very good opportunities, and when they are not, they tend to be wonderful shots. So, despite lethargic possession-based football creeping into the side without a fully fit attacking unit, they have still  performed well. Certainly better than Brighton, who are the worst finishing team in the league.

Speaking of creating very little, the Blades have only created an xG of 27, only scoring 16! The worst goal-scoring team in the league. 16 goals in 28 matches is abysmal. The statistics represent a combination of attacking failures at Sheffield.

There is no in-form goal scorer, there is no recognised working attacking partnership, the build-up play from the wing backs does not have anywhere near enough pace or acceleration, their ball retention is bad, their passing has been wayward, and have I missed anything else? Maybe a new manager or a caretaker can establish a working partnership and a progression of play which leads to creating opportunities.