Analysing Leicester City's Premier League run-in

Despite a drop off in form since the turn of the year, Leicester City were well on course to securing a top-four finish in the Premier League before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

The Foxes may have won just two of their eight matches since brushing aside Newcastle United on New Year's Day, but they were still third and eight points above Manchester United in fifth at the time of the shutdown.

Brendan Rodgers admitted last week that he is eager for the campaign to be played to its conclusion so that his side can "finish the job", even if that means waiting another couple of months before a ball can be kicked.

With a place in the Champions League for the second time in five seasons in their grasp, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at City's remaining nine fixtures.

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One thing that will need to discussed if the Premier League campaign is given the green light to continue is the order of the remaining fixtures.

Leicester were scheduled to travel to Watford in their next outing, which could well have proved to be a banana skin fixture of sorts.

The Foxes have lost three successive league games against the Hornets, each by a 2-1 scoreline, in a fixture that has been won by the home side in nine of the past 11 meetings.

Rodgers's men also still had to travel to Everton, Bournemouth and both North London clubs in Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur - a tricky set of away matches on the face of it.

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Everton had hit a good run of form under new boss Carlo Ancelotti, only to suffer a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea in their last match before the coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

The Toffees rank seventh in terms of home form this term, while Bournemouth are 16th in that particular table, Arsenal sixth and Tottenham fifth.

In terms of their remaining away opponents, however, Leicester took 15 points from a possible 15 in the reverse fixtures.

Indeed, only champions-elect Liverpool boast a better home record than the Foxes in the Premier League this term.

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City would have been confident going into their next two home meetings, then, with Brighton & Hove Albion (15th) and Crystal Palace (11th) scheduled to the be next to arrive at the King Power Stadium.

Either side of their aforementioned trip to Tottenham, City also have a couple more top-five rivals to play at home in Sheffield United and Manchester United.

United beat Leicester 1-0 in the reverse fixture seven months ago, but goals from Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy earned City a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane.

Rodgers's side still have some tough fixtures to come, then, with their remaining opponents averaging a position of 11th in the table.

Given their 10-point advantage on fifth-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, though, with that position likely to be enough to seal a place in UEFA's flagship competition next season, Leicester seem almost certain to get over the line if the season does eventually resume.

Leicester's remaining Premier League fixtures

Watford (a)
Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
Everton (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
Arsenal (a)
Bournemouth (a)
Sheffield United (h)
Tottenham Hotspur (a)
Manchester United (h)