MX23RW : Thursday, March 10 20:26:16| >> :120:8974:8974:

Brendan Rodgers backs Leicester to find form following draw with Napoli

Brendan Rodgers backs Leicester to find form following draw with Napoli
© Reuters
Leicester head to Brighton after drawing with Napoli in the Europa League.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has backed Leicester to find their form after admitting they need to improve.

The Foxes are yet to hit top gear this season ahead of Sunday's trip to Brighton.

They lost a 2-0 lead against Napoli to draw 2-2 in the Europa League on Thursday to continue a mixed start to the campaign.

Leicester have lost to West Ham and Manchester City in the Premier League and have beaten Wolves and Norwich, but Rodgers expects more progress as they find their feet this term.

He said: "There's no doubt we need to improve and that's something I'm very confident we'll do throughout the remainder of the season.

"It's still so early. I think everyone will assess it after 10 games and see where it's at. It's still so early, you're still trying to get your rhythm and get your players up to a level of fitness as well.

"The competition is always very challenging and the top teams who were strong last year have invested in big players so they expect to be up there.

Ayoze Perez in action for Leicester
Ayoze Perez, who scored the opener on Thursday, serves the final game of his suspension (Rui Vieira/AP)

"The likes of ourselves will look to fight and compete against that.

"The players have been magnificent in terms of their attitude and mentality. They are always in the game, fighting, running and working – doing all the unglamorous stuff, as I say to them, which they do as everyone saw against Napoli.

"But we have to be better with the ball, especially when you play a team like Napoli, then for sure, you need to have a higher technical level to compete."

Ayoze Perez, who scored the opener on Thursday night, serves the final game of his suspension after getting sent off at West Ham last month.

Jonny Evans is also expected to miss out after coming off at half-time against Napoli as he continues to struggle with a foot problem.

It is the same issue the defender battled with last season which also forced him off early in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.

Rodgers added: "We'll just need to wait and see. He'll probably struggle for the weekend. He's felt his foot again so we'll see, medically, how that looks in the next couple of days."

Jonny Evans in Leicester training
Jonny Evans is expected to miss out on Sunday (Mike Egerton/PA)

Brighton have won three of their opening four games this season and Rodgers remains a fan of what boss Graham Potter is doing at the Amex.

He said: "I have a big admiration for his work. When Chris (Hughton) was there, he did a fantastic job in a different way. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

"When you come in, one of the biggest things you have to do as a manager is to convince players of how you want them to play and he's been able to do that."

ID:464167:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7626:

Click here for more stories about Brendan Rodgers

Click here for more stories about Leicester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers pictured in August 2021
Read Next:
Brendan Rodgers says Foxes have 'lot to be happy about' despite blowing 2-0 lead
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Brendan Rodgers Football

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City28223368185069
2Liverpool27196271205163
3Chelsea26158353183553
4Arsenal25153741291248
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd2813874538747
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham28136946351145
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs2614394032845
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves27124112423140
9Southampton2781183441-735
10Crystal Palace2871293938133
11Aston Villa26103133737033
12Leicester CityLeicester2596104043-333
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2771282632-633
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle26610103046-1628
15Brentford2876153045-1527
16Leeds UnitedLeeds2758142961-3223
17Everton2564152846-1822
18Burnley26312112236-1421
19Watford2754182750-2319
20Norwich CityNorwich2745181658-4217

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!