Ruud van Nistelrooy may hand the same 11 Leicester City players the opportunity to show they can improve on the defeat to Chelsea when the manager’s old club Manchester United visit this Sunday.
Van Nistelrooy was pleased with how his new formation fared at Stamford Bridge, despite City falling to a fifth straight league defeat, with not a single goal scored in that run.
The manager had said following the loss at Chelsea that he would stick with the 5-2-1-2 system, although he then added some intrigue on Friday when he said there was another plan he could turn to.
For the final few minutes against Chelsea, van Nistelrooy used the inverted full-back set-up from last season under Enzo Maresca.
He was able to do so because of Ricardo Pereira’s return from injury, the Portuguese taking on the key role in the system, as he did last term.
“It was a tactical change because of the result at the time,” van Nistelrooy said on Friday. “It’s an excellent possibility. We can also use it at the start of the game. It depends on the opponent.
“Ricardo is an addition in the tactical flexibility because of his qualities. He can also play wing-back in a five. He’s a very good footballer in bringing the ball forward to the attacking players.”
It seems though it will only be a plan B for now, with the five-at-the-back system retained.
There are a number of changes that van Nistelrooy could make. As he mentioned, he sees Ricardo as a potential option at wing-back, with Woyo Coulibaly pushing to be involved there too.
Harry Winks, on as a substitute at Chelsea, could be a contender to replace Boubakary Soumare. While Facundo Buonanotte would provide a different option to Patson Daka in the attack.
However, for now, an unchanged line-up feels more likely. That will mean Luke Thomas is retained next to Conor Coady and Wout Faes in the centre of defence, with James Justin and Victor Kristiansen as wing-backs.
It will then be Wilfred Nddi and Soumare in midfield, with Bilal El Khannouss further ahead behind a strikeforce of Daka and Jamie Vardy.
Predicted City line-up (5-2-1-2): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Coady, Thomas, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare; El Khannouss; Daka, Vardy.
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