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Leicester City XI v Man United and the team Steve Cooper should pick
Leicester City may have lost 5-2 when they faced Manchester United in the Carabao Cup last week, but they should have left Old Trafford feeling confident they could cause problems for the Red Devils when they returned for the Premier League encounter.
City manager Steve Cooper made swathes of changes for the cup tie, but this time will name his strongest 11. However, the events of the loss to United and the weekend’s draw with Ipswich may have changed what that strongest 11 looks like.
Here, our writers Amie Wilson, Josh Holland and Jordan Blackwell debate the big selection topics, discussing who should start at centre-back and whether Boubakary Soumare and Jordan Ayew should be in the line-up. You can read their answers below.
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Who should start at centre-back?
AW: This is probably the most difficult decision for me, but I think I would now stick with Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard. Caleb Okoli has not done too much wrong, apart from the mistake against United, but it just feels like City are slightly more sturdy with the established partnership of Faes and Vestergaard.
The two built up a partnership last season, and I think that could be valuable this season too. I also feel that Vestergaard adds a bit more in terms of his passing and he compliments Faes.
Okoli and Conor Coady are really good back-ups for either in case of injuries and suspensions. The strength and depth in the position could be vital later in the season.
JH: I really liked the Faes-Okoli partnership but the number of chances and goals conceded each game was a concern. The Nottingham Forest game, in particular, was worrying. With Vestergaard returning, I feel like he calms Faes down.
Leicester fans have always pointed towards the Belgian’s reckless defending but Vestergaard’s experience next to him does help him. His passing range and presence inside the penalty box when needed at the other end makes him such a valuable asset. Okoli can feel hard done by, though, and Coady’s experience off-the-pitch means Leicester have strong options.
JB: It’s a really tough call. United are at their most dangerous on the counter, when attacking at pace, and so a quicker centre-back pairing in Faes and Okoli feels like it would be best to guard against that. But it’s an equally-valid argument to suggest that City having better ball players at the back reduces the likelihood that a misplaced pass sets up a counter for United, therefore pointing towards a Vestergaard start.
Whoever Cooper picks between Okoli and Vestergaard will have the biggest impact on how City will play at Old Trafford. If they’re sticking with Enzo Maresca’s inverted full-back system, then I’d go with Vestergaard.
Should Soumare start in midfield?
AW: There were big hopes for Soumare when he first came in, but he is yet to live up to them. The last two performances have however shown really good signs for the midfielder.
His effort to win the ball back against Ipswich and then travel with the ball, shrugging off challenges was crucial to the late equaliser. If he can do that consistently, then he should get a starting place, with that strength and ability to travel with the ball, something that City may have lost with the sale of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
I would be tempted to put him in for the game against United, given his previous performance and Old Trafford. The only question would be where would he fit in? It would possibly mean leaving Wilfred Nddi out of the team.
JH: This one is the biggest selection headache I think Cooper currently has. Soumare’s display against Man United in the cup was promising but his cameo at Portman Road showed exactly what we thought we were going to get in 2021.
I personally feel he offers better quality on the ball than Ndidi and his defensive prowess is obvious. I’m swaying more towards him deserving to start at Old Trafford this weekend with City expected to defend for large parts and look to drive forward, which Soumare can do. What will be important is him finding the consistency that convinced Leicester to sign him in the first place.
JB: If Soumare starts, it has to be with Harry Winks. Soumare’s biggest fault is his lapses in concentration and it can mean he loses runners or doesn’t get back quickly enough to support the defence. In that case, City will need a midfielder who tends to sit and not wander off in order to cover for the Frenchman, and Winks is that man.
Because he played well at United last week, striding past Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte with ease at times, and because Ndidi didn’t have the best of games at Ipswich, there’s probably no better time to give Soumare a Premier League start. Ndidi’s the safer bet, but I think the gamble is worth it this time.
Should Ayew start and in which position?
AW: Ayew’s biggest impact so far has been coming off the bench to take advantage of tiring defenders. I think that is probably where he will be most effective.
With defenders having to deal with the speed and skill of Stephy Mavididi or Abdul Fatawu on the wings, seeing someone with the tenacity and guile of Ayew coming on must be daunting. His experience is invaluable in either seeing out games, or as has been the case in the last two away matches, in getting a late goal.
I think what he brings to the team is more valuable in the closing stages. If he starts, then his energy is not so effective when that stage comes around, I would therefore continue to use him off the bench, where the option to play him in the position that is tiring remains open.
JH: Yes, he should. One of the things that Cooper has got spot on so far this season, apart from the obvious case with James Justin, has been pulling players out of the firing line when they have been underperforming. Mavididi earned his place in the starting 11 at the start of the season but hasn’t performed well enough in recent weeks and should be dropped.
Ayew’s contribution in the last two away games alone make him the obvious contender to replace him. However, Leicester must be wary of not losing that effectiveness off the bench that the Ghana international brings. Against United, I would start him, Bilal El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte with Fatawu and Mavididi dropping out.
JB: No. Cooper said after Ipswich that Ayew would not want to build a reputation as a super-sub as he’d quite like to be starting matches. But for me, all of his best attributes are more useful later in games.
If City are trailing, and opposition defenders may be tiring, they can call on Ayew for his intelligent movement and ability to ghost into dangerous areas. If City are winning, and opposition defenders may be frustrated, they can turn to him to hold the ball up and win free-kicks.
Against fresh full-backs, those qualities won’t show as much. So the trickier, faster wingers need to start. I’d stick with Mavididi and Fatawu.
