There is nothing more exciting than two rivals playing with a lot on the line. Leicester City gets to enjoy that excitement as they play Nottingham Forest this Monday. Both teams have been on slow starts to begin the season as they are the bottom two teams in the Premier League. Both of these sides are heading into the game with pressure riding behind them.
For Leicester, a loss would have to guarantee the sacking of Brendan Rodgers. For Forest, they can’t financially afford to be in a relegation battle with the amount of money they’ve spent this summer. There is a lot on the line. If the Foxes want to get a massive three points over their rivals, there are three players they should start against Nottingham Forest.
Daniel Iversen of Leicester City
If Rodgers wants to keep his job, now has to be the time to pull the trigger on putting Daniel Iversen in the starting eleven. The 24-year-old spent the last two seasons out on loan. While at Preston, Iversen recorded 22 clean sheets in his 69 appearances.
The Danish keeper first started playing for Leicester’s U-23 team at the age of 19. Even though he’s played for the youth team and gone out on multiple loans, he’s never made an appearance for the Leicester starting eleven.
The man from Denmark’s earned his chance at a crack in the starting eleven, especially with the poor play of Danny Ward. Plus, this is the most comfortable situation you can slide a new goalkeeper into besides cup games. It is not like he is being thrown into the wolves against Manchester City.
The backline has lacked confidence this whole season and that may be because of the man in between the sticks. They need something to believe in so they can play at their top level. Iversen is what they need right now.
Boubakary Soumare
Rodgers needs to be grateful that he has two defensive midfielders as talented as Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare. With Ndidi have a rough a stretch of games, Rodgers would be wise to give Soumare a go in the starting eleven against Forest.
In what Ndidi struggles with, Soumare excels in. Ndidi has struggled when the ball comes to him. He either gives away a poor pass or the defender rips the ball from him. Soumare has great vision for a defensive midfielder and could really help the attack when they’re struggling to get something going. Too many teams are interested in purchasing Soumare and it’s not for no reason. He is too talented a player to be sitting on the bench.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka
The striker situation is something Rodgers has yet to figure out this season; shocker. The constant formation changes have lead to both one or two strikers being played up top. It is also a constant shift between Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka.
For the upcoming game against Forest the Foxes go with two strikers up top. Although there’s been struggles defensively, the attack becomes non existent with just one striker up top. Such examples are against Manchester United and a Chelsea side with ten men.
Secondly, Rodgers should stick Iheanacho and Daka up top. When needed, Vardy will come off the bench and try to provide a potentially needed goal. But our best attacking chances will come with the other two starting up top.
Leicester look at their best attacking when Iheanacho has been in the game. Not only can he get the ball behind the net, but his link up play has been fantastic up well. Provide that passing ability with Daka’s speed and we have a lethal duo up front. They’re already shown signs of being fantastic together this season. In a game as pivotal as this one, they should get the chance to prove themselves again.