Fans' View: Foxes Intensity Key

The first game back after an international break. It's always eagerly anticipated, regardless of the opposition.

However, Saturday's visit of Premier League leaders Manchester City is a particularly mouth-watering prospect.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won their last nine league games and have already scored 38 league goals this season – as many as the bottom five clubs in the league combined.

Their defensive record has been equally impressive with just seven goals conceded in 11 games. It is a tough prospect for new Foxes boss Claude Puel.

Despite this formidable form, there are many reasons for the Blue Army to be optimistic.

Last season’s corresponding fixture was arguably Leicester’s best performance of the entire 2016/17 campaign. Jamie Vardy netted a hat-trick as the Foxes found themselves 3-0 up by the 20th minute.

John Stones may well be the only defender who featured in that match to play this time around, but he will certainly not have happy memories of that encounter with Vardy and Co.

The England striker, by contrast, will be eager for a repeat performance this time round. Puel’s regime has started on a positive note, too, with four points from the first two games - and four goals scored.

Defeating Everton was particularly impressive with Puel's men shaping up in a new 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray provided the width in an attacking trio which included Riyad Mahrez. They gave City a real cutting edge and a constant attacking threat.

Mahrez also looked like he relished his role in the No. 10 position.

I’m sure that most Leicester fans would love to see the manager take the same approach this weekend in terms of both formation and personnel.

Another factor is going to be how the players fare after the international break.

Seven of the Leicester team who started against Everton have been away with their countries. Many of the Man City squad have clocked up their fair share of air miles too.

In my view, this brings a little bit of an unknown quantity to Saturday’s game, which should make it an exciting affair for the supporters. 

If Puel has his Leicester team firing and the visitors are just slightly off the pace, then perhaps the Foxes can inflict a first league defeat of the season on our guests.

A home win wouldn’t change much at the top of the table with Guardiola’s team boasting an impressive eight-point lead.

However, it could catapult the Foxes into the top half of the table and inject some real momentum and confidence into their season.

The key from a Leicester point of view is to make a fast start and show the same intensity as they did last season. If they manage that, they may just come away with all three points.