2019/20 Premier League preview - Leicester City: Top six finish the goal for Brendan Rodgers

Richard Jolly runs the rule over Leicester City ahead of the new season, including key player, new signing to watch and predicted league finish

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Youri Tielemans of Leicester celebrates his goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Stoke City and Leicester City at the Bet365 Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Show less

If Leicester City had something of a wasted season last year, at least they ended it with optimism after sacking Claude Puel and bringing in Brendan Rodgers, a manager well-suited to their group of emerging, attack-minded players and who should bring more home wins.

Leicester have added to the progressive feel by buying Youri Tielemans and Ayoze Perez, offering still more options in the positions between Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy, and with the latter perhaps meaning James Maddison is used less as a No 10.

Yet one unresolved question about Rodgers is if his teams defend well enough: should Harry Maguire go, will Leicester have a soft underbelly?

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Who finishes where in 2019/20?

20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo

19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty

18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty

17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty

16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty

15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters

14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty

13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters

12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo

11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo

10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty

9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty

8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty

7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters

6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA

5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters

4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty

3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty

2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP

1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty

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Key player: Jamie Vardy

Turns 33 in January but a player whose game is based on raw pace can feel impervious to the ageing process. Despite a slow start, he still got 18 league goals last season; no other striker has got more than seven for Leicester in any of the last four seasons. Perez looks a partner, not a replacement.

Signing to watch: Youri Tielemans

When Leicester sealed a £40 million (Dh182m) club-record deal for the Belgian, the surprise was that they did not face more competition. The problem of the try-before-you-buy policy was that the midfielder had advertised his class in a loan spell. At just 22, he promises to be a fine signing in both the short and long terms.

Talking point: Are Leicester the most likely team to break into the top six?

Leicester have strength in depth in most positions, a group of young players – in Maddison, Ndidi, Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes and Demarai Gray – who ought to get better again and a group, from Kasper Schmeichel to Vardy, who are good enough to play for the elite clubs.

Even under Puel, they showed the ability to beat the top clubs, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal last season’s scalps. The question is if they can out-perform one of them over 38 games, but they look the best of the rest.

Prediction: 7th