Premier League rankings: Leicester City analysis, line-up & predicted finish

The Premier League has been a closed shop to any side out of the big six for the past three seasons but Leicester know that impossible dreams can become reality.

Leicester's remarkable 5,000-1 title triumph of 2016, however, appears to have shaken the elite into action. The three subsequent campaigns have seen the same teams fill the top six places and they are likely to do so again, despite Brendan Rodgers' best efforts.

Seventh spot should be the primary aim for the Foxes, who are capable of being the best of the rest as they aim to build on Rodgers' late-season cameo last term.

Leicester won four of their first five matches under the former Celtic boss and also produced some dazzling football in the 3-0 dismantling of Arsenal to hint at a bright future.

Rodgers seems a better fit for this dynamic Leicester side compared to Claude Puel and pandering to the strengths of team leader Jamie Vardy is sensible.

Vardy scored 18 Premier League goals last season – no other player outside of the top six notched more than 14 – and ten of those came in his last 11 appearances once Puel had been sacked.

It would be wrong to blame Leicester's slightly disappointing ninth-place finish entirely on Puel as the club had to come to terms with October's tragic helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium which claimed the life of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Puel also played his part in the development of James Maddison's superb debut Premier League campaign. The former Norwich playmaker finished top of the average key passes per game table (Eden Hazard and David Silva were among those also in the top five last season).

The Foxes remain as ambitious as ever, bringing in Ayoze Perez, Luton's flying full-back James Justin and last season's loan star Youri Tielemans. Even if Harry Maguire is sold, Rodgers will presumably get the funds to find a suitable replacement with the chunky fee.

Possible team (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Ndidi; Albrighton, Tielemans, Maddison; Vardy.

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