Why high-flying Leicester can break into elite again
The manager
Leicester City’s start to the season following their 3-1 defeat of Bournemouth – eight points from four matches, third in the table – exactly matches how the titlewinning 2015-16 season began. As then, City have a manager with a winning pedigree.
Brendan Rodgers does not have the length of service of Claudio Ranieri, who memorably led Leicester to that title, but brings a history of success after twice guiding Celtic to the Scottish treble. He won promotion to the Premier League with Swansea and went close to a Premier League title himself as Liverpool fell just short in the 2013-14 season, so he has experience of title-chasing pressure and knows the pitfalls.
Defence
A back four of Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Ben Chilwell looks the equal of Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs. Soyuncu has begun the season well. He and Evans may grow into one of the best central defensive partnerships in the division. Behind them, Kasper Schmeichel, like Jamie Vardy and a couple of others, provides a link with the Ranieri team and remains a dynamic goalkeeper and strong leader.
Midfield
In the defensive midfield position in which N’golo Kante once looked peerless, Wilfrid Ndidi has grown into one of the most consistent in the division, while home-grown Hamza Choudhury is showing much potential. Further forward, James Maddison is a technically proficient No10 with creative imagination and an eye for goal, while former Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans has the ability to justify his £40million price tag.
Wings
Here lies the most obvious shortfall. Where Riyad Mahrez was a regular goalscorer, contributing 17 to the title-winning cause, none of the other wide players has hinted at similar, much as Marc Albrighton, Harvey Barnes and Demarai Gray have outstanding qualities. There is more to come from Barnes, though. Summer signing Ayoze Perez, Newcastle United’s top scorer last season but left out on Saturday, is the one to whom fans will look to provide a Mahrez-like return.
Strikers
Vardy’s opening goal against Bournemouth, encompassing a long ball over the top, a turn of speed that left back-pedalling defenders for dead, and an outrageous looped finish that defied distance, angle and the degree of technique required, rekindled memories of his screamer against Liverpool. He is now 32 but, having quit international football, has every prospect of being every bit as effective as four years ago. His two goals on Saturday looked proof of that.