Leicester 0-2 Man City: Foxes not as effective on counter attack

Leicester City couldn’t complete a league double over Manchester City, as the Foxes were outclassed by Pep Guardiola’s side – ending 2-0, without creating any “good” chances.

Brendan Rodgers opted for consistency in his team selection, only dropping Çağlar Söyüncü for COVID-19 related reasons. This allowed Daniel Amartey to feature as the right centre-back in a 3-4-1-2, with the rest of the starting XI unchanged from the side that beat Manchester United two weeks prior.

There was a few murmurs of potentially shifting to the 3-4-3 formation that rewarded Leicester City with maximum points at the Etihad – in impressive fashion – but, without Harvey Barnes operating on the left-side, it was logical to field the narrow front three (Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy, and Ayoze Pérez) that played fluidly in the FA Cup quarter-final. I also feel that Pérez’s previous role (as the right-midfielder) and Iheanacho’s tendency to drop into the left half-space, could create a 3-4-3 structure for Rodgers if he wanted to replicate the previous system.

Prior to the game, Rodgers was asked if his tactics would be a carbon copy of the previous tie, i.e. sit in a deep-block, soak up the inevitable Citizen’s pressure, and look to devastate in the transitions/counters. Regardless of whether that was his plan or not, Rodgers remained tight-lipped, but did suggest the Foxes would see very little of the ball – 35% to be punctual (which turned out to be fairly accurate, although Leicester City did register 44% in the end).

It’s for this reason, that I though the Foxes played alright – especially considering the final outcome. Slight tactical alterations allowed Leicester to see out the first-half with a clean sheet, most notably being Pérez as a third central-midfielder (alongside the usual pivot) to create a 5-3-2 formation out of possession. I think the Spaniard is able to play this role due to his understanding of when to instigate a press outside the compact block and when to remain in the shape. His instinctive nature forced Kyle Walker into a few mistakes early into the game.

Shifting Pérez into the midfield also made Leicester City narrow in depth, meaning Guardiola’s side had to utilise the wings in chance creation. Both full-backs, Walker and Benjamin Mendy, had free roles due to the space afforded to them, but throughout the first-half there crosses/cutbacks where met
by one of the Foxes centre-backs. I thought Jonny Evans’ positioning for all of these (as the central defender) was incredibly good – particularly when you consider that Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Agüero started the game (i.e. 2-vs-1 centrally).