Form and reaction

Difficult to see how this one will ‘pan out’ with regards to both of those factors.

v Leicester City

King Power Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome.

Fluid 4-5-1 come 4-1-4-1 come 4-3-3 come 4-2-4…

___________________Iheanacho___________________

__De Bruyne___________________________Sterling__

_____________________Silva______________________                       

_____________Toure_____________________________

___________________________Fernando____________

Kolarov_______Otamendi_______Stones______Sagna

___________(Outfield player with gloves on)_________

Subs: Caballero, Clichy, Zabaleta, Delph, Gundogan, Navas, Nolito.

The usual, 11^th outfield player in yellow to start at the back.

With both-usual right-backs having played the 'full 92' in midweek, one of ‘em will have to ‘go again’ if it’s going to be a ‘back 4’ as I suggested it will be. I’m going for that to be Bacary on the right of defence. Rested completely for our last, group-stage Champions Leagues games; the other 3 of Aleks, Nicholas & John practically pick themselves.

With his similar-named colleague injured, I think Fernando will find himself with rare back-to-back games (and more to come I would suspect); Yaya to ‘pop back in’ for a league game and a fully-rested David to join him. Rested also on Wednesday, Kevin on the left flank and returning from a short-length-injury, Raheem on the right.

Kelechi starts his 4-game cover for Sergio – his time to shine!

Willy the keeper insurance (should start for me after a far more assured performance on Tuesday night); Gael & midfield dynamo Pablo the defensive cover. Fabian likely to be on the bench tomorrow; Ilkay, Leroy & Nolito the creative & attacking choices from the side seats.

Notable absences: Vincent Kompany (injured), Fernandinho (suspended – 1 of 3), Leroy Sane (not selected), Sergio Aguero (suspended – 1 of 4).

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Aside from the “keeper” and some concerns also about both Kolarov & Otamendi; there’s nothing else wrong with that.

Result? This is a weird one for me – The Foxes are showing all the hallmarks of a side after a title-winning season…but far more-so than any other Champion sides I’ve see, ourselves from recent seasons included.

Their form is awful and debate has already begun as to why that is [aside from last season’s hangover]. Weirdly, their Champion’s League results have been excellent…whatever you might think of the teams they drew in their group.

It’s their home form too that’s appalling and, both in contrast and in our favour, our away form is really quite good; especially in comparison to our home record this season after the first-10 games.

However, the Midlands’ outfit with a chosen, weakened side were torn apart 5-0 at FC Porto on Wednesday night, which has caused outrage amongst many Leicester fans - especially those who paid good money to support their team in Portugal - who are now questioning the motivation & spirit of many who received improved contracts in the summer.

That condemnation concerns me a little, in that we could see a ‘reaction’ from our host tomorrow evening (5:30pm KO GMT).

So, weighing everything up – their rested players in midweek v [similarly] ours; their awful form both in general but also at home v our very good away record in 2016 / 17 so far…but also their ‘wounded animal’ approach to this game; I have to conclude that with a defence that leaks at least one goal most games against their determination to regain some pride and get their season back on track; I’m sorry to say that I think this one is another, unhelpful draw.

Expected weather conditions during the game: Mild but heavy rain expected before, during and after the match, which should make this game even more interesting and hard to read.