Last season the 5000/1 Foxes scripted a seemingly impossible chapter into the sport’s history books by ousting the financial heavyweights of the top-flight to lift the Premier League title.
Following their remarkable ascendancy to the summit of English football, will Claudio Ranieri’s squad be able to cope with the demands of Champions League football?
Their story so far mirrors the good, the bad and the ugly. A poor start saw them suffer a shock 2-1 defeat at the KC Stadium on the opening day, but they have bounced back with an encouraging draw at home to Arsenal and would have emerged victorious had they not been denied a stonewall penalty late on.
The reigning champions finally chalked up their first win last time out by defeating Swansea 2-1 in an abyss of relentless torrential rain. The club’s leading goal-getter last term Jamie Vardy completed a productive Saturday afternoon of firsts by opening his account for the season.
Their achievements last year can never be over-elaborated, but it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Foxes to scale those heights again.
Liverpool vs. Leicester City Match Preview
A clash between two teams full of relentless energy should make for an entertaining game. Expect a classic Leicester performance where they will try and soak up Liverpool’s possession and hit them on the break. Liverpool V Leicester odds are 9/2 for Leicester to win.
Injuries
It is touch and go into whether goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will have recovered from a hernia injury he sustained in the win over Swansea.
Leicester City’s Star Players
Losing the tangible and destructive power of midfielder N’Golo Kante to Chelsea was a major blow to Leicester’s title ambitions. They have however managed to retain the services of rags-to-riches striker Jamie Vardy and Algerian playmaker Riyad Mahrez who continues to pull the strings in midfield. The rock-solid partnership of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan ensure the defensive spine of last year’s title winners remains intact.
Predicted Finish
Despite their incredible campaign last time out, the bookies still believe it is more likely for Leciester to be involved in a relegation battle (20/1 to be relegated) than it is for them to make another assault on the Premier League title (50-1 to be crowned Premier League Champions). I predict a comfortable mid-table finish for the Foxes – nothing more, nothing less.
Top Goal Scorer
Vardy scored 24 goals last season and was deservedly crowned Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. The 29-year-old even scored in eleven consecutive Premier League matches, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's record in the process.
History Of Leicester City
Nothing will top the achievements of Ranieri’s side in what is arguably the greatest sporting upset ever. Aside from this feat, the club holds a joint-highest seven second-tier titles. Leicester have lifted the League Cup three times and been FA Cup finalists four times – a tournament record for the most defeats in the final without having won the competition.
Managers
Matt Gillies is the club's longest serving manager, lasting a decade in the manager's seat between 1958 and 1968. He took charge of Leicester for a club record 508 matches, after making 111 appearances for the club as a player.
Current Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill led the club to the top-flight in 1995-96 and also won the League Cup twice during his successful tenure at what was then known as Filbert Street.
Nigel Pearson should also take enormous credit for last season as he masterminded a run of seven wins and one drawn from their last ten games in the 2014/15 season to help the club complete a miraculous escape, with the Foxes looking down and out at Christmas.
Key Games To Look Out For
It will be interesting to see how Leicester fare in balancing their Champions League encounters with Premier League action. A visit to Old Trafford at the end of October is followed by a dreamy clash against FC Porto and then tough domestic matches against Southampton and Chelsea respectively. This will be a testing period for Ranieri’s squad.
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