Brentford’s three-game week comes to an end on Saturday with Leicester City the visitors to the Gtech Community Stadium for the final action before the international break.
The Bees returned to winning ways at Southampton on Wednesday night, climbing to eighth in the Premier League as a result, while Leicester are still casting nervous glances over their shoulder with just goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three.
The opposition
Leicester’s top-flight status under threat following four straight defeats
Two fifth-place finishes, one historic FA Cup win and one Europa Conference League semi-final - over the past three seasons, Leicester City have exceeded all expectations set of them.
Last term, they finished, respectably, a little lower down in eighth, somewhat owing to inconsistent form and a hectic European schedule.
In February, Brendan Rodgers hinted at refreshing the squad, with 'big changes' needed.
Yet, as Jordan Blackwell alluded to in Hot off the Press prior to the opening fixture of the season against Brentford, worry had set in among the Leicester supporters during the close season. Club legend Kasper Schmeichel left to join Nice, Wesley Fofana signed for Chelsea and Ricardo Pereira was ruled out for an extended period with an Achilles surgery.
Signing back-up goalkeeper Alex Smithies and centre-back Wout Faes to replace the major outgoings did little to whet the appetite.
This anxiety was not unfounded. On the opening day, Leicester let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Thomas Frank’s men and then went onto lose their next six games in succession, which saw them slump to the bottom of the table.
The last of those was a 6-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on 17 September. After the final whistle, Rodgers seemed resigned to the reality that his time at the King Power was over.
He said: “Whatever happens, I will have a huge amount of respect for the owners because they’ve given me great support since I have been here.
“I understand the game; I understand football. Today the scoreline didn’t reflect the game, but the bottom line is we have had a heavy defeat and we should have been better. Whatever happens to me here at Leicester, I will always respect them.”
Understandably, it turned out they respected him, too. The board afforded Rodgers time and they were rewarded for doing so, with the Foxes winning five of the eight games before the World Cup break, keeping six clean sheets along the way, and climbing up to the relative safety of 13th.
But, to an extent, that work has unravelled since the return and they have been dragged into the relegation battle once more, following eight defeats from the last 11 Premier League games.
They have scored only 12 goals in that time, picked up seven points and failed to keep a single clean sheet. Granted, they have only been beaten by more than a two-goal margin twice, but a defeat is a defeat, whatever spin you put on it.
As a result, Rodgers’ men are sixth favourites to go down to the Championship with Sky Bet and are currently priced at 7/2. It does feel as though it is slightly too early to write them off completely, but also too early to suggest that, purely because of the strength of their squad on paper, they will be able to wriggle free of trouble.
The fixture list looks a little kinder after the upcoming international break, but make no mistake about it, Leicester’s Premier League status is under threat.
The gameplan
With Leicestershire Live’s Jordan Blackwell
Jordan Blackwell, Leicester City correspondent for Leicestershire Live, discusses the Foxes’ recent form, Brendan Rodgers’ preferred system and the player that Brentford must deal with at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday in Hot off the Press.
“Against Chelsea Rodgers moved to a back three for the first time in a long time, but I think that was because Harvey Barnes was not fit enough to play the whole game; now he is, I think he will probably revert to a 4-3-3.
“Danny Ward will be in goal, Ricardo Pereira and Timothy Castagne at full-back, Harry Souttar and Johnny Evans will be at centre-back, with the latter likely to make his first Premier League start in five months.
“The midfield will be Nampalys Mendy, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Maddison, then Tete on the right, Barnes on the left and Kelechi Iheanacho up front.”
Team news
Ajer and Janelt unavailable for Leicester clash; Roerslev touch-and-go
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed that both Vitaly Janelt and Kristoffer Ajer will miss the Bees' game against Leicester City on Saturday.
Janelt was taken off just before half-time during the 2-0 win over Southampton on Wednesday, and Frank revealed that the German midfielder will need to be assessed further to understand the extent of the injury.
“We still need assessment for Vitaly Janelt, who we had to sub off. The thing we can say is that he won’t be available for Saturday, but we need more to see what the injury is," said the Brentford boss.
“Kris Ajer, the calf injury will also make him unavailable for the squad on Saturday.
“Mads Roerslev will still be assessed because he is touch-and-go for the weekend. The rest are all available.”
The manager
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers was forced to retire from playing due to a knee condition at the age of 20.
The Northern Irishman went straight into academy coaching with Reading where he remained until Jose Mourinho and Chelsea came calling in 2004.
Following four years at Stamford Bridge, firstly as youth manager, and then reserve manager, Rodgers took the main job at Watford in 2008.
Success wasn’t immediate with Watford, or subsequently with Reading, and it was at Swansea City where Rodgers really started to make an impact.
He led the Swans to promotion to the Premier League through the 2010/11 Play-Offs before guiding them to finish 11th the following season.
There then followed three trophy-less years at Liverpool, although Rodgers and the Reds were a late-season collapse away from winning the 2013/14 Premier League.
Heading to Celtic in May 2016, Rodgers led Celtic to an undefeated domestic season in his first year, and trebles in both of his first two seasons.
He left Celtic for Leicester City in February 2019, finishing fifth in his first full season and winning Leicester’s first-ever FA Cup the year after.
Last meeting
Leicester City 2 Brentford 2 (Premier League, 7 August 2022)
Josh Dasilva chose the perfect time to net his first Premier League goal as Brentford fought back from two goals down to take a point from an absorbing opening-day outing against Leicester City.
When Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made it 2-0 seconds after half-time, adding to Timothy Castagne’s first-half header, it looked all set for a defeat, but Thomas Frank’s Bees rose off the canvas to grab a point.
Match officials
Bond returns
Referee: Darren Bond
Assistants: Edward Smart and Marc Perry
Fourth official: Jarred Gillett
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies
Lancashire official Darren Bond will take charge of Brentford for the second time in six weeks when Leicester City head to TW8 on Saturday.
His last Bees assignment was February’s 3-0 win at home to Southampton, our eighth win in 20 games under Bond.
There have also been six draws and just as many defeats.
Brentford are unbeaten in the last nine matches with Bond in charge, winning five of the past six. They include a 5-1 demolition of Hull City in February 2020 and victories at Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Middlesbrough during the Sky Bet Championship promotion-winning season.
Leicester City 2022/23
274 fouls – 12th in Premier League
37 yellow cards – 15th in Premier League
One red card – seventh in Premier League