How Leicester City could set up when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium this Saturday afternoon, looking for their first home league win since October
The potential return of three Leicester City players presents Brendan Rodgers with a couple of interesting selection headaches for this weekend’s match against Tottenham.
Rodgers is unlikely to make too many changes to a fresh, exciting line-up after a morale-boosting victory over Aston Villa, City’s highest-placed opponent this season. He does, however, have a few players to whom he can turn if he wishes to make changes to his team.
Following their injuries, Jonny Evans and Boubakary Soumare have returned to training and may be available for selection. Wilfred Ndidi, who was unable to play for Villa due to personal reasons, could also be available. This gives Rodgers options in two positions.
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Evans is the club’s captain and, when fit, has been the defensive leader for Rodgers. He is still highly regarded by the manager, and it is possible that his experience and organizational skills will be required in a game against the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. -min.
However, when Evans was temporarily fit prior to the World Cup, Rodgers chose to keep a center-back pairing for Daniel Amartey and Wout Faes at West Ham because they had been performing well together, with the manager emphasizing the importance of a partnership at the heart of a defense. After seeing Faes and Harry Souttar play together and do well, they may get a second chance.
Rodgers chose a forward-thinking midfield against Villa, with Youri Tielemans at the back, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, and James Maddison further forward, and no defensive midfielder. It made for a more open match, but City looked more progressive on the ball and more dangerous in attack.
Rodgers must decide whether to take a more cautious approach against the Spurs. Ndidi would be a pure defensive option, whereas Soumare would combine Ndidi’s and Tielemans’ strengths.
Otherwise, Rodgers is likely to select the same team if everyone has maintained their fitness this week. Victor Kristiansen and Tete will make their home debuts for the club.
Ward; Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen; Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison; Tete, Iheanacho, Barnes; Tete, Iheanacho, Barnes. Iversen, Smithies, Thomas, Amartey, Soyuncu, Evans, Vestergaard, Brunt, Mendy, Ndidi, Soumare, Praet, Marcal-Madivadua, Vardy, and Daka are the substitutes.
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