Out of sorts Leicester City host a Watford side on the rise at the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In the previous two campaigns Brendan Rodgers‘ Foxes have occupied lofty positions in the Champions League spaces at this point of the season, yet have slumped to 12th after as many games this term.

Here’s the XI Rodgers may deploy to avoid the newly-promoted Hornets leapfrogging their hosts with a win this weekend.

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Shortlisted for another prestigious award ?@kschmeichel1 ?‍

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 23, 2021

Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – No goalkeeper in the Premier League has been forced to make more saves than Leicester’s overworked number one this season.

Daniel Amartey (CB) – The subject of some scrutiny after winning a controversial penalty for his nation Ghana against South Africa in the last international break, Leicester could use some of Amartey’s guile as they await their first spot kick of the season.

Jonny Evans (CB) – Only the division’s bottom two sides (Norwich and Newcastle) have conceded more goals than the backline Evans anchors (21).

Caglar Soyuncu (CB) – Despite enduring a rocky start to the campaign, Lord Farquhar has played more Premier League minutes than any other Leicester outfielder this season.

Marc Albrighton (RWB) – So far sparingly used, Albrighton’s experience may be called upon with Ricardo Pereira’s continuing injury concerns.

Boubakary Soumare (CM) – Lumbered with the unenviable task of replacing Youri Tielemans at his peak, the 22-year-old has struggled to replicate the admittedly elite creative output of his Belgian teammate.

Wilfred Ndidi (CM) – As defensively active as ever, Ndidi’s effectiveness at breaking up play hasn’t been enough to stem the flow of goals so far.

James Maddison (AM) – For a player that has featured in all 12 league games yet failed to manage the full 90 in any of them, this is the wrong fixture for an early exit; four of the last five meetings between these sides has witnessed a goal in the 90th minute.

Timothy Castagne (LWB) – One of Leicester’s more frankly spoken squad members has admitted he is ‚difficult‘ and so is ’never satisfied‘ – though it doesn’t take the most exacting standards to be disappointed with two wins from the last nine league games.

????? just doing ????? things ? pic.twitter.com/VJFKmZzVTh

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 24, 2021

Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) – Overlooked in recent weeks as Rodgers experimented with wingers back in his side, last season’s top scorer across all competitions may be due a return to the starting XI.

Jamie Vardy (ST) – After a glut of spot kicks (eight) inflated an underwhelming past campaign, Vardy has already matched his non-penalty tally of seven goals in 12 games this term.