Leicester City’s Ideal Starting XI Featuring Three Summer Signings
Steve Cooper Has a Full Squad at His Disposal – Now It's About Selecting the Best XI to Compete in the Premier League
Unless Leicester City make an unexpected move for a free agent, Steve Cooper now knows the squad he’ll work with until at least January.
However, he might still be figuring out his best starting 11.
While Cooper maintained the same line-up for the first two Premier League games, he made three changes in the defeat to Aston Villa.
Ahead of the next fixture against Crystal Palace, Bilal El Khannouss is a contender for a starting spot, while Odsonne Edouard could debut the following week against Everton.
It’s possible that Cooper may not have a fixed best 11.
He has hinted that his selections will be influenced by the opposition and the specific player profiles needed for different matches.
Still, that won’t stop us from assessing what Leicester City’s ideal line-up could look like.
Here’s a closer look at each position and the key battles for starting spots.
Goalkeeper
This is likely the easiest decision in the team. Mads Hermansen is Leicester’s number one, and with Jakub Stolarczyk injured, there’s little competition for the Danish keeper’s spot.
Fortunately, Hermansen has started to look comfortable in the Premier League.
Full-back
The full-back positions have sparked the most debate.
The biggest talking point has been Cooper’s decision to not give Ricardo Pereira any Premier League minutes so far.
A crucial player last season, Ricardo currently sits behind James Justin in the pecking order, likely due to Cooper’s tactical setup.
When Leicester are in possession, one full-back stays back to form part of a back three while the other pushes forward.
Justin, playing at right-back, seems more suited to this defensive role.
He has experience in a similar position last season and offers more physicality, making him better equipped for the defensive demands.
On the left, Victor Kristiansen has been favored.
The Danish full-back has the stamina to contribute in both attack and defense, but he has struggled at times, particularly when left without sufficient support in the team’s opening matches.
