Alious
Leicester City are primed to break their winless streak with a refreshed game plan and potential personnel tweaks as they gear up to face Brighton on Saturday. Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is considering his first lineup changes in five matches, hinting at a strategic evolution that could give the Foxes a decisive edge on the south coast.
One forced change may come at the back, with centre-back Wout Faes a fresh injury concern. The Belgian defender missed training on Thursday due to a minor knock and remains a doubt for the weekend clash. “He couldn’t train today,” van Nistelrooy confirmed. “We’ll have a look tomorrow, but he’s the only injury concern.”
More intriguingly, Leicester could benefit from the return of Ricardo Pereira, who is pushing for a starting spot after overcoming a long-term hamstring injury. Having made two consecutive appearances off the bench, the Portuguese full-back is fully fit and offers tactical flexibility that van Nistelrooy is eager to exploit.
“He’s been out a lot but he looks after himself,” the manager said. “We want to build him up in the right way. He’s definitely a possibility to start. Playing with an inverted full-back opens up opportunities to stretch the play with two natural wingers.”
Van Nistelrooy specifically praised the second-half energy brought by Facundo Buonanotte and Stephy Mavididi against Newcastle, suggesting their width could be complemented by Ricardo’s inside movements — a combination that may unlock Brighton’s defensive lines.
Despite Faes’ potential absence, Leicester will still have the luxury of selection headaches, with multiple senior players — including Harry Winks, Kasey McAteer, and Odsonne Edouard — at risk of missing out on the matchday squad entirely due to squad depth.
With a renewed tactical vision, the return of a seasoned leader in Ricardo, and strategic changes on the cards, Leicester appear poised to strike back — and Brighton could feel the full force of a Foxes side ready to pounce.
Alious
