Leicester City’s Early 2020-21 Season: A Tactical Analysis
Leicester City narrowly missed Champions League qualification at the end of the 2019-20 Premier League season, leading some to question whether their impressive displays were sustainable. However, under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, the Foxes began the 2020-21 campaign with renewed vigor. Despite challenges such as injuries to key players, Leicester’s tactical adaptability and consistent performances allowed them to reach the top of the league table after eight matches, boasting six wins. This in-depth analysis explores the tactical approaches that have underpinned their success, focusing on formation changes, player roles, and key strategies.
Adopting the 3-4-2-1: Defensive Solidity and Flexible Structure
Brendan Rodgers’ decision to transition Leicester City into a 3-4-2-1 formation proved pivotal, particularly following an emphatic 5-2 win against Manchester City, where the team played with a defensively-oriented system resembling a 5-4-1. This switch was influenced heavily by injuries—most notably to Wilfred Ndidi, Caglar Soyuncu, and Jonny Evans—which necessitated a formation that could shore up defensive vulnerabilities.
In this setup, Youri Tielemans shifted to a deeper midfield role alongside Nampalys Mendy, sharing the defensive workload left in Ndidi’s absence. The system enabled Tielemans to support Mendy and reduced the pressure on the French midfielder while facilitating squad rotation—a necessity given the added European fixtures. Players such as James Justin, Christian Fuchs, and Dennis Praet benefitted from increased minutes, highlighting Rodgers’ willingness to leverage the versatility within his squad.
The use of the 3-4-2-1 also provided enhanced midfield stability. Even amid a rotating defensive line, the formation’s structure allowed Leicester to cover gaps effectively, maintain compactness, and retain flexibility across different competitions.
Embracing Tactical Versatility: Lineup and Rotation
Contrary to the common managerial approach of limited rotation, Rodgers provided playing time to 23 players across just eight matches, with eighteen starting at least twice. While injuries forced some of these changes, it was also a testament to Rodgers’ preference for formation rotations, as evidenced by his use of three different tactical setups by this early stage of the season. Leicester’s flexibility allowed for seamless shifts between approaches, with players demonstrating tactical understanding and adaptability in training and matches.
Key mainstays in the squad included Kasper Schmeichel in goal and Jamie Vardy up front. Vardy’s goal-scoring prowess—23 goals in 35 matches the previous season, and already 8 goals in his first 7 outings of 2020-21—remained central. He was frequently joined in attack by Harvey Barnes and Dennis Praet, with the latter drifting in from the right, often supported by overlapping runs from either Timothy Castagne or Marc Albrighton.
In defense, injuries led to further rotation, but James Justin became a critical figure, featuring in all eight matches and covering multiple roles across the backline. Wesley Fofana’s impressive start further reinforced the three-at-the-back system, with Fuchs and Luke Thomas also featuring regularly while other defenders awaited recovery.
The Alternative Shape: 4-1-4-1 and Its Evolution
Besides the successful use of 3-4-2-1, Leicester have at times reverted to Rodgers’ preferred 4-1-4-1 formation, even while dealing with squad absences. In this layout, Tielemans continued to play a deeper role than in previous seasons, supporting Mendy as a secondary shield in the absence of Ndidi. This shift sometimes made the formation resemble a 4-2-3-1, with Dennis Praet serving as the primary attacking midfielder.
An essential aspect of the 4-1-4-1 system was the continued emphasis on fullback attacking intent. Following the departures of Ricardo Pereira (injured) and Ben Chilwell, newcomers Timothy Castagne and James Justin filled these roles effectively, playing a significant part in Leicester’s offensive transitions.
Interestingly, Tielemans, deployed on the right side, balanced defensive obligations with moments to join attacks, while the right-sided attackers—whether Ayoze Perez or Dennis Praet—played more inverted roles compared to the direct, touchline-hugging presence of Harvey Barnes on the left. The impact of Castagne’s attacking output on the left, once Pereira returned, remained an area of tactical interest.
Barnes and Vardy: Forming an Explosive Partnership
Leicester’s attacking identity was reshaped by the strong partnership between Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes. While the Vardy-Mahrez duo of the past thrived on individual brilliance, Vardy’s current link-up play with Barnes showcased more collective movement. Barnes, known for his pace, dribbling, and sharp interplay, was highly compatible with Vardy’s dynamic approach.
A significant proportion of Leicester’s attacks originated from the left wing, leveraging Barnes’ strengths. Nearly a quarter (24%) of their shots came from this flank, among the highest rates in the Premier League, especially with both players in the side. Barnes led the team in dribbles and shooting frequency, playing a crucial role in quick transitions and counterattacks.
The Foxes adopted a measured approach to shooting—choosing quality over volume. With just 9.4 shots per match (ranking 14th in the league), they managed to score 18 goals—tied for the third-highest total at that stage. A notable aspect of their goal threat was penalty acquisition—Leicester had already won eight penalties, converting seven. This attacking efficiency was underscored by the fact that 63% of their shots came from inside the penalty area, highlighting their commitment to working the ball into dangerous positions before shooting.
Fullbacks and Wing-Backs: Driving Attacks from the Flanks
A defining feature of Leicester’s play this season has been the relentless drive of their fullbacks and wing-backs. Timothy Castagne, quickly establishing himself at right-back or right wing-back, offered both defensive stability and significant attacking contribution, regularly making incisive runs and delivering dangerous crosses.
Unlike past seasons, where both left and right backs frequently surged forward, Justin was sometimes more conservative, offering stability while enabling Castagne greater attacking freedom on the opposite flank. This balance resulted in a near-equal distribution of attacks down both flanks—38% left, 38% right, with the remaining 25% through the center.
Attacks down the right typically featured intricate passing between Tielemans, Praet, and the overlapping fullback, creating overloads and confusion for opponents. Opposing defenders were often forced to track decoy runs, broadening Leicester’s attacking options and maintaining unpredictability—even when star fullbacks were unavailable due to injury.
Defensive Organization and Compactness
Leicester’s defensive strategy centered on a disciplined, mid-block approach. Rather than pressing high up the pitch, the Foxes preferred to maintain shape and compactness, typically defending in a 5-4-1 setup when using the 3-4-2-1 formation. The wing-backs dropped deep, and the wide attackers tracked back to reinforce the midfield, making the side difficult to break down.
Their patience in defense resulted in impressive discipline: Leicester conceded relatively few fouls—just 10.3 per game—and were among the league’s leaders in interceptions, averaging 12 per match. They also recorded the second-most tackles (16.5 per game) and were dribbled past just 6.9 times per game, further illustrating their tactical cohesion and defensive resilience.
Key aspects of their defensive stability included:
– Emphasis on team shape over aggressive pressing
– Strategic timing of individual pressing actions
– Consistent shifting and covering to limit space for opponents
Summary: Can Leicester Repeat History?
Leicester City’s tactical adaptability and collective discipline under Brendan Rodgers allowed them to thrive despite numerous injuries and a congested fixture list. The fluid interchanging of formations, reliance on dynamic combinations between Vardy and Barnes, and sophisticated fullback play created a balanced, unpredictable side—capable of both grinding out results and producing moments of attacking brilliance.
Whether this rich vein of form culminates in another fairytale title run remains to be seen. However, Leicester’s tactical evolution and early season performances have firmly established them as one of the most intriguing and accomplished teams in the Premier League this season.
