Leicester City’s expected line-up vs Chelsea as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s approach sparks four changes.

Leicester City must do more than just try to avoid defeat if they want to secure the crucial wins they need.

This necessity could influence Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team selection when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

By kickoff, City could find themselves trailing safety by eight points, depending on Wolves’ result against Everton on Saturday night.

The urgency for victories is increasing, as Leicester’s poor form continues—they have suffered 11 defeats in their last 12 league games.

Their struggles in front of goal have only compounded the problem. Over the past four matches, they have failed to score, with goal-scoring opportunities becoming increasingly scarce.

Van Nistelrooy had opted for a more defensive approach on the wings, deploying Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid to provide more solidity at the back.

However, this strategy has not been effective, as City have conceded 12 goals in those four games.

Given these struggles, the manager may need to rethink his lineup to restore the balance between attack and defense.

Van Nistelrooy’s Tactical Dilemma

Speaking on Friday, van Nistelrooy emphasized the importance of mindset:

“The right approach is how to handle the mental aspect. That is key. If you want to win, you cannot focus solely on avoiding defeat.

“You start at 0-0, meaning you have a result in hand. If you become too focused on protecting that, you lose initiative, making it harder to win games.

“It has to be about balance. You need to analyze opponents and decide how much initiative to take. That balance must be reflected in our approach.

“There was a period when we created plenty of chances but couldn’t finish them. More recently, our attacking output has declined because we prioritized defensive stability, but it hasn’t worked as planned.

“If you go too offensive, you concede goals; if you go too defensive, you fail to create. It’s about finding the right balance.”

Possible Line-up Changes

One player who could benefit from this tactical shift is Stephy Mavididi. The winger has not started any of Leicester’s last six matches in all competitions, but he provided a spark off the bench against West Ham and is now pushing for a starting role.

On the opposite flank, it remains to be seen whether Facundo Buonanotte will retain his spot or if van Nistelrooy will opt for the more defensive Jordan Ayew instead.

In midfield, Harry Winks impressed as a substitute against West Ham, bringing greater control to City’s play.

He is in contention to replace Boubakary Soumare in central midfield.

Although Ricardo Pereira has returned to fitness, he is unlikely to displace James Justin or Victor Kristiansen at full-back just yet.

However, Caleb Okoli could challenge Jannik Vestergaard for a starting role at center-back.

Up front, Jamie Vardy is expected to lead the line once again despite scoring just once in his last 11 Premier League appearances. His experience and leadership will likely keep Patson Daka on the bench.

Predicted Leicester City XI (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Hermansen

Defenders: Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen

Midfielders: Ndidi, Winks

Forwards: Ayew, El Khannouss, Mavididi

Striker: Vardy

With time running out, Leicester must find a way to turn their fortunes around. If they fail to adjust, their survival hopes will continue to fade.