Leicester City Insight: Analysing the Foxes’ Dismal Start to 2022/23

27/09/22 1672

In 2016, Leicester City won the Premier League title. Fast-forward to today – the Foxes find themselves rock bottom of the table with a solitary point after seven games.

Of course, Leicester’s Premier League triumph was hugely unexpected. But the East Midlands outfit have enjoyed plenty of success since then. With that in mind, it is difficult to explain their current situation.

Is Brendan Rodgers on the verge of losing his job at the King Power Stadium? Or can the manager and the players turn things around?

There is no hiding the fact that Leicester’s early-season schedule has not been kind. Rodgers’ men have already faced – and lost to – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, as well as Southampton and Brighton.

The team’s solitary point came on the opening weekend of the campaign. It is worth noting, however, that Leicester were 2-0 up against Brentford before conceding two second-half goals to throw away two points.

As you can see, the Foxes’ results highlight their struggles.

• Leicester 2-2 Brentford
• Arsenal 4-2 Leicester
• Leicester 1-2 Southampton
• Chelsea 2-1 Leicester
• Leicester 0-1 Man Utd
• Brighton 5-2 Leicester
• Tottenham 6-2 Leicester

Leicester have let in a whopping 22 goals across seven league outings this term, meaning they have conceded at a rate of 3.1 goals per game. Needless to say, they have the worst defensive record in the division.

To put things into perspective, Nottingham Forest – who sit three points above Leicester in nineteenth place – have conceded 17 goals.

On a brighter note, Rodgers’ men haven’t struggled to score goals this season. With ten goals to their name, only seven teams have a better offensive record than Leicester. If the Foxes sort out their defensive problems, they will surely begin to outscore their opponents.

James Maddison (3 goals, 1 assist) has been a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy campaign for Leicester, while Youri Tielemans, Timothy Castagne, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Patson Daka have all bagged a goal and an assist.

Let’s not forget that players such as Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi, Harvey Barnes and James Justin also have an important role to play in the team.

There is absolutely no denying that Leicester have enough top players to dig themselves out of trouble. But if results don’t improve after the international break, the club will have little choice but to part ways with Rodgers.