Predicted Leicester starting XI v Burnley: Will Ranieri tinker?

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After a Champions League debut to remember, Leicester return to Premier League action against Burnley.

Wednesday night was another famous night for Leicester City. Making their Champions League debut, the fairy tale continued as they returned from Brugge with all three points after a 3-0 win.

On Saturday they return to Premier League action, where the defence of their crown has gotten off to a rocky start. The Foxes host newly promoted Burnley at the King Power Stadium, who are currently one place above Leicester on goal difference.

With games now coming thick and fast for Ranieri, will the Italian see the need to rotate or tinker?

The Champions’ main injury concern is Danny Simpson, who missed the clash with Club Brugge after picking up an injury in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool. Luis Hernandez slotted in at right back and will probably continue there with Simpson likely to be still ruled out.

The rest of the back four should also remain unchanged. The base of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth was instrumental in Leicester’s title win, and they will be joined by Christian Fuchs at left back.

Ranieri has named the same midfield four for the past three games, and the manager will probably go with that same four to face Burnley. Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton were Leicester’s goalscorers in the Champions League, with the Englishman scoring the club’s first ever goal in the competition after five minutes.

In the centre will be Danny Drinkwater and Daniel Amartey, which has been Ranieri’s most used partnership so far this season, as he looks for a solution to the departed N’Golo Kante.

Islam Slimani made his Leicester debut in the win in Belgium, but will probably have to settle for a place on the bench against Burnley. Shinji Okazaki and Jamie Vardy will likely be the pair that start the game, with the Japanese striker dropping deeper when possible.

One of Leicester’s main problems this season has been teams countering their 4-4-2 formation, reducing the space for players like Vardy to run into, suggesting that Ranieri may have to change from his open style to three central midfielders. There has been no sign of this changing yet, with the Italian still being bold and playing two up top in Europe, suggesting that he won’t change his style in the Premier League just yet either.