Leicester City v Bristol City: Predicted starting XI as Foxes march on

Leicester City host Bristol City as the Foxes welcome back Andy King and Nigel Pearson to the King Power. Here is our predicted XI as we face the Robins.

Seven games played, six wins, and only one loss. Enzo Maresca’s men with big Jannik Vestergaard at the back and Mads Hermansen dominating between the sticks are marching on after brushing past Southampton and tip-toeing by Norwich City. Now, the Robins of Bristol City currently seventh in the table represent our next challenge.

Predicted Leicester City XI

The main question remains: to rest or not to rest? It seems that Italian head coach is very eclectic and prepared to make minor alterations to the team, although the core remains largely intact. There were some major players who did not start but were subbed on during the Norwich tie, and I will be expecting more of the same.

Should Maresca choose not to rest, this is the XI I expect. Hermansen, Ricardo Pereira, Wout Faes, Vestergaard, Callum Doyle, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Harry Winks, Wilfred Ndidi, Stephy Mavididi, Kasey McAteer, and Jamie Vardy. The benefit of this team is that the head coach knows what to expect.

The King Power club would be defensively solid against a counter-attacking side, control midfield with the best ball-passer we have and a clearly creative and tempo-setting talent in ‘KDH’, and Leicester would have their best forwards to start the game. However, on Wednesday 27th September, the Foxes face Liverpool in the cup. A much tougher challenge and one we should be sharp and rested for.

As such, if the boss does rest – which is what I expect – then this is the predicted XI: Hermansen, James Justin, Conor Coady (brought off early for Vestergaard), Pereira, Faes (brought off early for Ben Nelson?), Hamza Choudhury, Cesare Casadei, KDH, Abdul Fatawu, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Yunus Akgun. There are a few assumptions made for this to be the XI.

Firstly, I am assuming the head coach will continue his distrust of both Patson Daka and Harry Souttar – otherwise the Australian would obviously start this tie. Second, that Faes and Pereira will not be rested due to how important they are. Third, that the front three will be the effective second team – which is still really good – and finally, that Choudhury will continue to be used in midfield rather than as a centre-back.

Either team would be enough to beat the Robins, but Bristol City under Pearson is no small task. Leicester City may need their best midfielders to control the game, and their best defenders to stop counter attacks.