[ad_pod ]
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Leicester City have gone two draws from two to open the 2019/20 Premier League season by following up the Wolves stalemate with a one-goal apiece encounter at Stamford Bridge.
Wilfred Ndidi’s mistake allowed Mason Mount to open the scoring early in the first half but the 22-year-old made amends by bagging the equaliser with a nicely-timed header from James Maddison’s corner.
Leicester’s number ten should have won it for the Foxes after drilling a close-range effort well over the bar with less than 20 minutes left in the match.
Although it was another draw, Brendan Rodgers’ side remain unbeaten and there were plenty of positives to take from the game against Chelsea.
Most notably, with the role of Maddison who looked to be a completely different player to the one we saw against Wolves only eight days ago.
Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
On the Chalkboard
The 22-year-old looked a despondent and frustrated figure out wide last week, proving to be fairly ineffectual and ultimately wasted.
However, against Chelsea he proved that he is more than capable of having an impact in that very role after it appeared that Rodgers gave him more freedom to express himself.
That subtle change resulted in a Man of the Match performance on Maddison’s part.
He recorded 67 touches, six of which were in the opposition box (and the most of any player), two shots, three chances created including the assist for the equaliser and completed 24 of 36 passes – all stats according to Sky Sports Statto.
Both of Leicester’s full-backs were pushed forward in the attacking phases of the game as seen by both Christian Fuchs’ and Ricardo Pereira’s heatmaps from the match which allowed Maddison and his wing partner Ayoze Perez, freedom to cut in and operate more centrally at times.
Could it be “game over” for Kelechi Iheanacho at Leicester? Find out in the video below…
The England U21 international played primarily in the centre of midfield last season – in 26 of his 38 appearances to be precise, where he scored six and assisted three.
The remaining matches he played out wide where he could only manage one goal and four assists.
Certainly after the Wolves game, the same trend looked to be repeated but if he’s continued to be given the ability to roam freely then he may well thrive and be the asset Rodgers needs in attack.
[ad_pod ]