The Premier League kicks off on Friday night, therefore our writers have provided their predictions for Leicester City’s upcoming season and where they expect Steve Cooper’s team will end The Premier League is here. On Friday night, nine months of thrilling, heart-stopping drama begins, and Leicester City will be there in the thick of it once more. City’s preparation has not been ideal, with a change in manager and ongoing financial problems. But where does this leave them heading into the campaign?
Our writers Jordan Blackwell, Josh Holland, and Amie Wilson provide their predictions for the new season, including where City will finish, their key players, and the challenges they face. You can share your ideas in the comments box at the bottom of this page.
Where will Leicester City end, and why?
JB: It is not unrealistic to suggest that City could finish anywhere between 12th and 20th. There appear to be nine teams in the relegation battle, including the promoted trio and the six sides who finished directly above the drop zone last season, and one or two results can make a major difference in the bottom half of the league.
However, I fear the worse and believe City will finish last. Simply put, there are more potential issues at the King Power Stadium than at the other clubs. Most of this is about the club’s prospective penalties for allegedly violating Profit and Sustainability Rules. I don’t think the club’s case holds up very well, and I can’t see them escape penalties. I doubt they’ll be granted the same tolerance as Nottingham Forest, so expect at least a six-point deduction. Furthermore, they are entering the season with minimal expenditure on their roster, especially because they have sold their finest player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
A few days before the season begins, it is impossible to say definitively that the squad is better than it was at the close of the previous season. The loss of Enzo Maresca, the hiring of Steve Cooper, and the transition to new methods have understandably resulted in a little step backwards for City, even though many of the ideals from last season remain. And, while the new manager shown at Forest that he can rally a fan base and create an atmosphere conducive to winning, it appears that he has a long way to go at City. At Ipswich and Southampton, where the managers are popular, it appears like there will be greater patience with poor results.
Finally, pre-season performances do not bode well. Hopefully, Lens’ performance has served as a wake-up call, because if City continues to play like this for the next nine months, they will not finish outside of the bottom three. JH: The time has arrived, and City is back in the Premier League. Following the highs of last season’s Championship, things are set to get interesting in LE2. According to analysts’ season forecasts and magazine previews, Leicester is destined for relegation. City are favourites to lose, owing to concerns about the squad’s quality and the looming threat of a point deduction.
However, in what appears to be a very unpopular opinion, I believe Leicester will have enough. Because of the club’s ongoing legal dispute with the Premier League, a points deduction blow may not come until 2025, ensuring that Cooper’s side compete on an equal playing field with their relegation rivals. The club thrives as the underdog. Think about Nigel Pearson in 2015, Claudio Ranieri in 2016, Craig Shakespeare in 2017, and Brendan Rodgers in 2021.
