Leicester 2-1 Brentford: Rodgers needs to fix hot and cold performances

As similar as the two games were, there are a few talking points from the narrow victory that I’d like to dissect during this article. Firstly, the usage of the double pivot — Youri Tielemans and Nampalys Mendy, in possession. In the basic structure, it was either a 4–3–3 or 4–2–3–1, with the double pivot mainly forming in the latter, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would join them in the three-man midfield of the 4–3–3.

Because of injuries, and perhaps fatigue with the starters, Rodgers wanted his full-backs to play high up the pitch — as there was a lack of winger profiles available in the matchday squad (because of injuries to Marc Albrighton and Ademola Lookman), to help the creation of chances for the Foxes. To enable their progressiveness, the double pivot would drop and play just ahead of the two centre-backs (Çağlar Söyüncü and Daniel Amartey), giving a secure platform for the full-backs to place themselves in advanced positions.

Without the pivot dropping, Leicester City would’ve been more exposed to transitions when there was a turnover of possession. Instead, they could camp in Brentford’s half and dictate the game — only for the first-half.

Throughout the second-half, Brentford controlled the game. The Foxes weren’t able to create this 2–2–5–1 structure (the formation that includes the double pivot just ahead of the centre-backs), as one of the key principles to it working during the first-half was Maddison. His inverting from the right-side overloaded the centre of the pitch and provided space for James Justin (right-back) to progress into.