Leicester City Predicted XI vs Chelsea: Attacking Adjustments and Possible Defensive Changes
Leicester City’s Potential Line-Up for Enzo Maresca’s Return: Fatawu, Ayew, and Buonanotte Likely to Miss Out
Bilal El Khannouss is emerging as a likely starter for Leicester City in their Premier League clash against Chelsea, with manager Steve Cooper considering two potential roles for the Moroccan midfielder.
Since his £20m transfer from Genk in the summer, the 20-year-old has only managed two Premier League starts, largely waiting for his opportunity.
However, his impressive performance in the Carabao Cup against Manchester United, coupled with squad availability issues, makes him a strong candidate for a starting spot on Saturday.
City face a reshuffle in attack due to the suspension of Facundo Buonanotte and injuries to Abdul Fatawu and Jordan Ayew, both of whom suffered knee problems while on international duty with Ghana.
With these absences, El Khannouss is expected to step into one of the attacking roles.
Possible Roles for El Khannouss
Without Buonanotte or Fatawu, City lack a left-footed attacking option, necessitating adjustments in the lineup.
One option is to deploy El Khannouss as a left-sided winger, where he can cut inside onto his preferred right foot.
In this setup, he would support Wilfred Ndidi in advanced midfield positions when Leicester is in possession.
Alternatively, Ndidi could shift to a deeper midfield role alongside Harry Winks, pushing Boubakary Soumare out of the starting XI.
In this scenario, El Khannouss would play as the central attacking midfielder (No. 10), while the returning Bobby De Cordova-Reid takes the left-wing role.
Changes on the Right Flank
Regardless of El Khannouss’s position, changes on the right wing are likely. Stephy Mavididi, who played on the right at Old Trafford, could continue in that role as a traditional winger.
Kasey McAteer, seeking his first Premier League start, is also in contention for the spot.
Striker and Defensive Decisions
Up front, Jamie Vardy is back in training and may be available for selection.
If he isn’t fit, Patson Daka, who has yet to feature this season due to an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, could make his return directly into the starting XI.
Defensively, Cooper has fewer injury concerns but still faces tough choices. James Justin is expected to start at right-back in Ricardo Pereira’s absence, with the latter sidelined for four months.
At centre-back, Caleb Okoli may return after being benched in recent games following some early mistakes.
If Okoli starts, Jannik Vestergaard could drop out, although Wout Faes is another candidate after underwhelming performances, including a poor showing in Belgium’s 1-0 defeat to Israel.
Victor Kristiansen is another player whose position is under scrutiny. The left-back struggled in Leicester’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United and faced criticism for his international displays.
Given Cooper’s willingness to drop underperforming players, Kristiansen’s place in the XI is far from secure.
With injuries and form issues disrupting Leicester’s plans, Cooper must make critical decisions to balance the team and deliver a strong performance against Chelsea.
