Premier League 19/20: Are Leicester City serious title contenders?

What lies ahead?

Ayoze Perez was signed from Newcastle over the Summer

Leicester City have done pretty well against the 'Big Six' in the league. They defeated Arsenal and Tottenham, drew away to Chelsea and lost by the finest margins to Manchester United and Liverpool. They do pose a threat to the big teams and are certainly worthy of being in the top 4. The poor form of United, Spurs and Arsenal, and a Chelsea team in a transition phase have played into the hands of the Foxes. Expect them to continue being in the top 4 for the next few weeks as they have a relatively kind run of fixtures.

The major roadblock arrives in the form of back-to-back matches against Manchester City and Liverpool in the last week of December. The fixture congestion around that time does not help Brendan Rodgers' cause either. This period would be a test by fire for Brendan Rodgers and his players. Hence, it would be wise to rotate the squad for the next few games to preserve the best players for the bigger games.

Leicester City mostly play the same XI week in week out, and fatigue could creep into the team, so January acquisitions are a must. If the Foxes are to compete till the end of the season, they will need additions to this squad. The board would also have to do its best in retaining the current bunch of players, with Ben Chilwell, Çağlar Söyüncü and Youri Tielemans often being featured in transfer rumours.

The likes of Chelsea and Man City have shown an interest in Ben Chilwell

Leicester City are currently second, and here comes the million-dollar question: Can they win the title from here? Though many people would be rooting for them, the answer in one simple word would be 'no'. Though the league is barely half-way through, Liverpool have a huge 8-point lead, which seems nearly unassailable at this point. Manchester City are also more evolved as a team than Leicester and the Foxes would find it tough to compete with these two at this moment.

They could still finish in the top 4 of course and should aim to finish above Chelsea, as they do seem like the better team at the moment. A third-place finish is what we predict at the end of the season. With United and Arsenal well off the top 4, and Spurs still adjusting to their new manager, Leicester could easily and realistically achieve this. For a team that finished 9th last season, finishing in the top 4 would be a great achievement.

Leicester City is not yet a 'big club', but certainly, have the blueprint to become one. They've got a young, dynamic and talented team. The manager has a long-term vision and has been backed by the board so far. Though they may not be immediate 'title-challengers' this season, their main aim must be to bring in a few reinforcements in January and aim to finish in the top 4 at the end of the current season.

Brendan Rodgers' has proved his mettle as a manager in the league so far

If they persist with Brendan Rodgers and his ideas, they could become a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. In this way, the players and club can truly make the dream of the Late Vichai Srivardanaprabha become reality.