It has been three years since's Leicester City's fairytale Premier League campaign and the club, slowly stripped of its title-winning stars, has found some stability in Brendan Rodgers.
Replacing Claude Puel with just ten games remaining, he took his predecessor's possession-based style and added a bit of direct approach to maximise the output of his squad. As a result the Foxes' slump came to an end, losing just thrice while finishing the season just five points behind an impressive Wolves side.
In the season since its title win, the club has largely depended on its talisman Jamie Vardy for goals. It didn't take long for other teams to realise that and dealt with him by man-marking him, which nullified the club's only goalscoring option. Looking to add some diversity to its attack, Leicester made the most of the uncertainty caused by Rafael Benitez's departure from Newcastle United to sign Ayoze Perez. Capable of playing up front on his own, partnering Vardy or as a wide-forward, the Spaniard's versatility will help stretch opposition defences and give room for others to maximise their output.
A club-record deal to turn Youri Tielemans' impressive loan spell permanent has ensured Rodgers will have most of his team intact going into the season. The one absentee will be Harry Maguire, who has finally completed his big-money move to Manchester United — a year after being linked with it. In Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic, both signed last summer, the club has able replacements to partner Jonny Evans at centre-back. The £85 million departure of Maguire gives the club the option to flex its financial muscle on deadline day, so a move for Brighton's Lewis Dunk could still be on the cards.
The first eight games of the season see the club play Chelsea, Wolves, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool — teams which comfortably finished above it but will be juggling domestic campaigns with European commitments. A good start to the season could help Rodgers guide the Foxes to a Europa League-guaranteeing seventh place and maybe past a struggling top-six side too.
Is the team's revival under Rodgers last season a one-off or will the team be able to build on that, and cope with Maguire's loss, in his first full season in East Midlands? Only time will tell.
Premier League fixtures
August
10: Leicester City vs Wolves
18: Chelsea vs Leicester City
24: Sheffield United vs Leicester City
31: Leicester City vs Bournemouth
September
14: Manchester United vs Leicester City
21: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
28: Leicester City vs Newcastle United
October
5: Liverpool vs Leicester City
19: Leicester City vs Burnley
25: Southampton vs Leicester City
November
2: Crystal Palace v Leicester
9: Leicester City vs Arsenal
23: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Leicester City
30: Leicester City vs Everton
December
3: Leicester City vs Watford
7: Aston Villa vs Leicester City
14: Leicester City vs Norwich City
21: Manchester City vs Leicester City
26: Leicester City vs Liverpool
28: West Ham United vs Leicester City
January
1: Newcastle United vs Leicester City
11: Leicester City vs Southampton
18: Burnley vs Leicester City
21: Leicester City vs West Ham United
February
1: Leicester City vs Chelsea
8: Wolves vs Leicester City
22: Leicester City vs Manchester City
29: Norwich City vs Leicester City
March
7: Leicester City vs Aston Villa
14: Watford vs Leicester City
21: Leicester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion
April
4: Everton vs Leicester City
11: Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
18: Arsenal vs Leicester City
25: Bournemouth vs Leicester City
May
2: Leicester City vs Sheffield United
9: Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City
17: Leicester City vs Manchester United
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