Premier League 19/20: Are Leicester City serious title contenders?
It's a chilly November evening in the east midlands. The locals of Leicestershire are at the King Power Stadium, or at a nearby pub, cheering for their club, their pride, their very own 'Foxes'. In one corner of the stadium are a set of travelling fans, cheering on the opposition, albeit with a hint of worry. Ah, I almost forgot! Leicester City are playing Arsenal. Yes, the same Arsenal that was once considered one of the very best in England.
But what transpired at Filbert street was something special. Leicester City finished the match as 2-0 winners, and deservingly so. It wasn't down to a poor performance from Arsenal; no, it wasn't a Gunners' off day. It was a Leicester side brimming with confidence and dominating large parts of the game. Just two weeks prior to this day, the same team had travelled to St. Mary's and schooled Southampton 9-0. Yes, 9-0! Premier League records were shattered in the process.
The fans were all waiting with bated breath after the Arsenal game. Could they repeat the heroics of 2015/16? After all, their side was third in the table, only behind high-flying Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Could we qualify for the Champions League? To think that 'little Leicester' was daydreaming would only be a fool's words. Were they over-achieving? Maybe. But all of it was thoroughly deserved.
Fast-forward to today, and the Foxes have made a stunning start in the Premier League this season. Heading into December, they are second in the League table and have made it to the quarter-final stage of the Carabao Cup. They're scoring goals for fun, have been solid at the back, and honestly, have been a lot of fun to watch. The team has a perfect blend of youth and experience.
At the helm of all of this is Brendan Rodgers, who signed midway through last season. While the latter half of last season was all about guaranteeing safety in the league, Rodgers has thoroughly been able to implement his ideas in his first full season with the club. His outstanding man-management has overseen many players performing beyond expectations, while a few shrewd buys in the transfer market have immensely helped build this team.
What has clicked for them so far? Could we see a repeat of heroics from 2015/16? Could they keep up this momentum until the end of the season? We take a look at the Foxes' season so far and discuss what lies ahead for them as the season progresses.
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