Leicester City vs Chelsea: 3 things to look out for

A change of shape for Leicester City?

Brendan Rodgers faces a difficult question when it comes to the game, does he stick to his trusted 4-3-3, or does he change the shape of his team in order to get a result? It’s a question that Rob Tanner speculated this week in The Athletic as he harked back to the great escape of 2015, in which a formation change coincided with the Foxes’ change of fortune.

4-3-3 has worked for Rodgers and, if Iheanacho had his shooting boots on against Southampton, it would have been a winning system in the South Coast. Given the question over Harvey Barnes’ fitness though, it may be a foregone conclusion for Rodgers that he has to change his shape.

The obvious answer is a return to a 3-5-2 that brought so much success in 2021. A return to a back three could help sure up defence with Faes and Souttar being accompanied by Castagne – who has played as a centre-half in that formation before – or Soyuncu. With Barnes’ injury we could see Tete deployed from the left with either Maddison pushed to the right, or Ricardo on the right flank.

Up top, however, is where the real impact could be. Iheanacho should keep his place but partnering him up with either Daka or – preferably – Vardy could be very fruitful in a time where Leicester are struggling for goals. Iheanacho has worked very well being partnered up with a second striker, with the Nigerian threading in passes behind as well as holding the ball up. It’s a change that could just unlock that little bit extra that the Foxes have been crying out for.