Leicester is here to crash the party

A win over United would be symbolic of Leicester’s attempts to crash the Top-Four party this year.

Never before had the Premier League’s top six positions been occupied by the same six teams for three successive seasons until last season. Indeed, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham recent stranglehold on the Premier League has been tight, but their grip might have been loosened somewhat over the summer.

Only four games of the new season have been played, but there already appears to be a gulf between City and Liverpool and the rest, with last season’s top two expected to resume their duel at the top of the table. Beneath them, though, competition to break into the top six hasn’t been so fierce for years.

Teams are already jockeying for position. Everton spent big over the summer, while Wolves have continued to build on their mightily impressive first season back in the top flight which saw them finish seventh. West Ham have also strengthened, but Leicester City have emerged as the consensus choice to crash the top six party.

Brendan Rodgers got Leicester back on the straight and narrow following his appointment in late February and has now had time to assess his squad, moulding them in his image over the final few weeks of last season and into this season. The Northern Irishman now has a dynamic and well-drilled team capable of breaking through English soccer’s glass ceiling.

Victory over Manchester United this weekend would be symbolic of this. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are one of three along with Arsenal and Chelsea facing a fight to sustain their top six status. They have suffered a dismal start to the 2019/20 campaign, winning just one of their opening four fixtures. This looks like being a long season for the Old Trafford outfit.

Just how long could be partially determined by what happens on Saturday. Leicester are a team well-equipped to expose United’s weaknesses. Solskjaer’s side are particularly weak in the centre of the pitch where Paul Pogba has been left on his own to essentially perform the roles of three midfielders. James Maddison, Wilfried Ndidi and Youri Tielemens will control things in a way Scott McTominay, Andreas Perreira and Pogba are incapable of.

Then there’s Jamie Vardy who has started his season with three goals in four Premier League outings. United have shown familiar defensive vulnerabilities in games against Wolves, Crystal Palace and Southampton and so Leicester City’s wily frontman will fancy his chances of continuing his goalscoring form this weekend.

Even at the back, where Man Utd robbed Leicester of their best defender by paying £80 million for Harry Maguire in the summer transfer window, the Foxes look the stronger of the two sides on the basis of the first few games of the season. Caglar Soyuncu has stepped into the void left by Maguire, while Ben Chilwell, Jonny Evans and Roberto Pereira are proven performers.

Leicester City face a defining period in their season. After their trip to Old Trafford, Rodgers and his team will welcome Spurs to the King Power Stadium before travelling to Merseyside to take on Liverpool at the start of October. Strong showings in two of these three games would establish the Foxes as top six contenders, maybe even top four challengers.

Rodgers couldn’t wish to be taking his side to Old Trafford at a better time. Man Utd are facing something of an existential crisis. Their summer overhaul hasn’t had the desired effect, with gaping holes still apparent in Solskjaer’s team. They are a club spinning around and around in a circle. They’ve been that way for years now. On the other hand, Leicester City have a clear direction under Rodgers. All arrows point to the top six. Victory this weekend would be another sign post.