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Leicester: How Rodgers can beat Guardiola once again

By Nathan Wong

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Leicester City makes a point to Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Leicester City makes a point to Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) offers his hand to Leicester City’s Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers (L) (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

The Formation and Personnel Leicester City should utilise

In my opinion, if Leicester City were to play a back four on Saturday, this would be tantamount to suicide- given the attacking panache of the Citizens. Therefore Brendan Rodgers must revert to a more defensive 5-3-2 or 3-5-2. Given the nature of the game, it’s likely LCFC will be playing in a back 5 most of the time.

Starting XI:

Defence: Schmeichel, Pereira, Amartey, Vestergaard, Söyüncü, Bertrand

Midfield: Ndidi, Tielemans, Soumaré

Attack: Iheanacho and Vardy

It’s a big call to drop both Maddison and Harvey Barnes, even when accounting for their poor start of season form, but I believe Soumaré will provide better ball retention in the middle of the park and much-needed physicality and composure against the famed Guardiola press.

Furthermore, Kelechi Iheanacho not only deserves a start (as last season’s top scorer) but his link-up play will be much needed to generate LCFC attacks and improve the underwhelming 2.57xG registered so far.

The rationale for using such a formation is it will provide defensive stability as well as tactical flexibility. It doesn’t take a genius to recognise Leicester won’t have much possession, but in recent years the Foxes have always been at their best on the break. Having two-strikers will also pose different questions for the Man City backline, with Iheanacho able to drop deeper and influence the game.

I am of the firm belief that Soumaré here could make a difference as a press-resistant progressing midfielder. His ability to beat players in tight situations and break the lines will be invaluable in making the most of limited transitions. Man City’s high-press make it extremely difficult to get out of the defensive half, but once the press is broken Guardiola’s side are quite vulnerable. Therefore the onus is on Tielemans and Soumaré (should they both play) to be able to supply the forwards with goalscoring opportunities.