Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City side will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome a Burnley team hot on form to the King Power Stadium on Saturday. After their spirited performance against the Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekend, the Foxes will undoubtedly have their tails up as they look to get the three points that would keep them in the top four.
Burnley are coming into this difficult fixture on the back of a fairly decent unbeaten streak in the league that stretches all the way back to the end of August. With a place in the top six potentially on offer, both teams will certainly go all out looking for the result.
Team News: Midfield star James Maddison has been suffering from a feverish illness in recent weeks and remains a huge doubt for this tie. If this is the case, the Foxes fans will be hoping and praying that he recovers in time for this home fixture. Long-term absentee Matthew James has been ruled out of action with no return date in sight owing to a calf problem.
4-1-4-1 Leicester City Predicted Lineup To Face Burnley
Formation: 4-1-4-1
Defence
The defensive duo consisting of veteran Englishman Jonny Evans and youngster Caglar Soyuncu has worked a treat thus far for Brendan Rodgers’ side, and they’re expected to retain their places. Kasper Schmeichel hasn’t been troubled too often because of the excellent work being put in by the players immediately in front of him.
Evans’ vast experience and ever-growing defensive proficiency have made him the obvious choice in the heart of the defence, alongside the young Turkish breakout star.
First-choice left-back Ben Chilwell has gradually grown into his position, and his exemplary work has continued this term. Although he hasn’t been notching up goals and assists at last year’s rate, he has had a positive influence on the team. Similar things can also be said about the Portuguese right-back Ricardo Pereria. The 26-year-old has 35 tackles to his name so far this season, highlighting the sheer effort that he puts in every week. This makes them both obvious starters for this important tie.
Midfield
Wilfried Ndidi is another Leicester player who is currently hot property and makes the team-sheet with ease. Showing his class and worth in every game, the midfield destroyer has been in the heart of everything positive this Foxes team has done. His ability to cut out passes certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of Europe. In front of him, expect to see the familiar duo of Denis Praet and Youri Tielemans.
Tielemans has the ability to pick out some special passes for teammates or score some special goals himself. This, alongside a dynamic and forward-thinking midfielder in Praet, will make this a nightmare outing for the Burnley defence.
They will be supported on the flanks by Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez. The former Newcastle United man only makes the starting eleven because of James Maddison’s absence. But as we’ve seen in the Premier League before, he does have the quality to pull a performance out of the hat. Harvey Barnes’ direct approach to the game, fully utilising his pace and trickery down the flank, will be a massive asset for the Foxes as well.
Attack
Jamie Vardy’s place in the side has never really come under question ever since they surprised the whole footballing world by winning the league all those years ago. Now 32, the Englishman certainly hasn’t slowed down in terms of pace or scoring rate.
Still as quick as ever, he has already picked up an impressive five goals this term, putting him in 8th place in the golden boot race. Expect the veteran striker to be the first name on the cards as Brendan Rodgers looks to secure what would indeed be a massive boost to their aspirations of Top 4 this season.
