Leicester City will be looking to find some form in what has largely been an erratic season for last year’s champions when they host West Bromwich Albion this Saturday.
The Foxes are currently at the 11th position with 12 points from the opening 10 games. West Bromwich are currently in the 16th position with 10 points in what has been a bad patch in the last few games for the Baggies.
With the Premier league quite tight this season, there is not much to separate the teams from the points perspective. Good thing for West Brom will be that Leicester have never beaten them in their last six home games. West Brom, however, have failed to win their last 3 games against Leicester despite score twice in each of them.
Leicester have been the better side when home fixtures are considered as they have managed to gather 11 points from 5 games in their home games.
Defence
It is quite surprising that Leicester City have largely the same team, which won the league last year and yet this season, their form has dipped to such an extent despite being well acquainted with each other’s style of play.
Ranieri started with the duo Wes Morgan and Robert Huth in the middle in their midweek Champions League and is expected to continue with them because of their experience.
Although this season they haven’t done quite well at the heart of the defence, Ranieri doesn’t have much of an option. Christian Fuchs will keep his place at left-back after a largely action-less midweek fixture at FC Copenhagen. Danny Simpson was rested in the midweek game with Ranieri bringing in Luis Hernandez to replace him and he is likely to return at the weekend.
Both Huth and Simpson are currently on 4 yellow cards and would need to take precaution.
Midfield
Leicester have struggled in this position, lacking any kind of creativity or dangerous movements in the opponent’s half. The void left by N’Golo Kanté has been massive and Ranieri has tried various options which have all be pretty fruitless in the League.
Their high-profile summer signing Nampalys Mendy, who was supposed to be the replacement of Kanté, is yet to make a return from injury.
Andy King has been decent in the centre with Drinkwater and the fact that King was rested in the midweek’s match indicates that he might start the game against Albion ahead of Daniel Amartey.
The flanks will be taken up by Riyad Mahrez with Ahmed Musa, with the latter likely to start on the left.
Attack
Ranieri started Vardy with Musa in the midweek, which failed to produce anything against Copenhagen. Hence, we expect Vardy to start with Slimani as they did in the Premier League.
