What to Watch for: Leicester City vs Manchester City

Despite a tough game over the weekend against Wolves, Leicester managed a point and now have a great chance of solidifying their spot in the Champions league next season if they can get 3 points against a Manchester City team that has had a challenging week. Here are a few match-ups that could decide the game.

1. Ben Chillwell vs Riyad Mahrez

Ben Chillwell probably still has nightmares about the last time Leicester played Man City. Chillwell was isolated on the left side of the Leicester back line time and time again against former fox Riyad Mahrez.

On his day, Mahrez is a world-class player, and he made the foxes pay. He was a constant threat as he scored and played a pass that led to a penalty. If Brendan Rodgers chooses to leave Chillwell alone on the left against him again it could be a long night for the English Left Back.

Adama came on as a sub, but Chillwell did well.

2. Jamie Vardy vs Fernandinho/Otamendi/Laporte

Vardy was in great form the last time these two sides met. Things are a bit different now. The last time Vardy scored was in this same matchup in... 2019. He hasn’t scored since the start of the new year and Leicester will need that to change badly against a tough Man City side.

The former England international was very isolated against Wolves, going long spells of the game without seeing the ball. He had the fewest touches of any starting outfield player and has watched his lead in the Golden Boot race dwindle down to just 1.

The last time they played Vardy was constantly finding space in behind the two City centerbacks. It looks as though Manchester will run out the same centerback pairing with Aymeric Laporte still out injured. Vardy needs to score in this game if the Foxes want to take 3 points.

EDIT: Since posting, Laporte was named in the City XI against West Ham. If he makes it through unscathed, he’ll presumably be available on Saturday.

3. Brendan Rodgers vs Pep Guardiola

During the December meeting, Pep clearly got the better of Rodgers tactically. Guardiola managed to set up his team in a way that allowed both Kevin De Bruyne and Mahrez to float in pockets of space, leaving Ndidi no one to mark and putting defenders in 1 on 1 situations.

As the game inevitably stretched, this left Man City with chances to exploit that space and score. The blue side of Manchester peppered the Leicester goal with 23 shots, 12 of which were on target. City ran out comfortably the 3-1 victors.

Rodgers will need to make changes to how the foxes are set up if he hopes to win. Especially if Leicester are still without Wilfried Ndidi.