1) Improved Leicester face down champions
Brendan Rodgers revived? Five matches in October have brought three wins, just one defeat, and four clean sheets. Picking off fellow strugglers Leeds and then Wolves in a resounding 4-0 win lifted Leicester out of the bottom three but there is plenty of work to be done. Rodgers’ immediate target is to reach the World Cup break clear of the relegation zone, though facing Manchester City is likely to be unhelpful. Leicester’s newfound defensive strength has been widely attributed to the form of Wout Faes but the aggressive, tousle-haired Belgian might be saved the ultimate test against Erling Haaland given that he’s a doubt with the foot injury that prevented him playing the second half at Borussia Dortmund. Leicester have occasionally been a troubling opponent for Pep Guardiola. His first visit to the King Power in October 2016 ended in a Jamie Vardy-inspired 4-2 loss and the moment he was famously moved to ask: “What’s tackles?” John Brewin
