Player Focus: Albrighton As Important to Leicester as Vardy, Mahrez And Co.
As the games come thick and fast over the festive period, any team can string a number of results together to improve their seasonal goals. Take Swansea for example, a three-game unbeaten run has helped them move out of the relegation zone, instead swapping places with Newcastle, whose back-to-back defeats to Everton and West Brom mean they head into 2016 mired in the bottom three.
Conversely, Leicester City are looking to return to the summit of England’s top tier with a win over Manchester City tonight. The Foxes spent Christmas Day atop the Premier League, though Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth on Monday night - the Gunners themselves losing on Saturday - saw them drop to second by one point, but Leicester know victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s side will lift them back into top spot, capping off what has been a mightily impressive year for the flying Foxes.
At the beginning of April, Leicester footed the Premier League and were favourites to drop back into the Championship. The turnaround under Nigel Pearson and subsequent continuation of form under Claudio Ranieri - Leicester have lost only three games since the beginning of April - has rightly drawn the plaudits. The likes of the league’s joint-top goalscorer Jamie Vardy (15), highest rated player Riyad Mahrez (8.26) and top interceptor N’Golo Kante (4.2) have each played a vital role.
However, while the trio have their fair share of admirers and understandably so, their displays have overshadowed the unsung heroes of the team. Danny Drinkwater warrants adulation, while the centre-back partnership of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan have protected Kasper Schmeichel. Further forward, Marc Albrighton has been somewhat unfortunate to not have been heralded more praise for his efforts to the same level of Vardy, Mahrez and co.
The former Aston Villa wideman struggled initially with injuries before settling into a regular first team spot under Pearson and Ranieri. His return to fitness coincided with a much-improved Leicester side as Albrighton provided the necessary width required to help stretch the opposition in their quest to secure top-flight safety. His WhoScored rating this season is a modest 7.19, though that perhaps reflects his approach. Albrighton isn’t a player who is going to change the game in the blink of an eye in the same way Mahrez will, but instead toils on the flank, both by providing an effective offensive outlet for his teammates and helping protect left-back Christian Fuchs, another whose commendable displays have flown under the radar.
It’s these traits that will be required when Leicester host City. Opposition right-backs will often struggle to get the better of the Leicester man, particularly when on top form. In Ranieri’s favoured 4-4-2 formation, the wingers in the system must help out the full-backs or else Leicester run the risk of being overrun out wide. With Albrighton in the side, there is very little chance of this happening. The 26-year-old has gained a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘defensive contribution’ and is more than capable of limiting the opposition’s offensive threat, in part due to his deployment as a wing-back under Pearson last season.
This allowed Albrighton to hone his defensive qualities and it’s standing him in excellent stead with Ranieri at the helm. An average of 2.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game are both impressive numbers for a player in his position. Given Leicester are a team built on a counter-attacking approach to football, the tenacity he provides not only limits attacks, but allows the Foxes to swiftly instigate attacking moves in the process. With the opposition caught unawares, and Ranieri having at his disposal quick attackers, Leicester can flood forward and, given the performances of Vardy and Mahrez, will more often than not punish sides.
A number of times, this will come as a direct result of Albrighton’s work off the ball, meaning he can then maximise his offensive capabilities. He is currently averaging a respectable two key passes and 1.6 successful dribbles per league game and has six assists to his name already. Five of those have been for Mahrez - only Mesut Ozil to Olivier Giroud and Gerard Deulofeu to Romelu Lukaku (both 6 goals) has been a more profitable combination in the Premier League this season. Mahrez’s constant movement off the ball and willingness to drift inside from the right flank means he’s capable of ghosting into goalscoring positions. Albrighton’s creative qualities then allow for him to pick out his Algerian teammate.
While his one-footedness is cause for concern - Albrighton will more often than not cut onto his right foot from the left flank - his low centre of gravity means that, while defenders can read his movements, he’s tough to stop. With the unpredictability of Mahrez’s play upsetting the balance in defence, Albrighton has a player he can pick out and an attacker more than capable of bringing the ball down and forging a goalscoring opportunity, thus improving Leicester’s chances of finding the back of the net.
Ahead of Tuesday’s top of the table clash with City, Albrighton could prove to be key. Expected to come up against the conservative Bacary Sagna, the Leicester ace will have more freedom to attack the Citizens defence. Vardy and Mahrez are the ones the visiting side will look to limit at the King Power Stadium, but they could end up shooting themselves in the foot if they fail to pay close attention to Albrighton.
How important will Marc Albrighton prove to be in Leicester's surprise title charge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
