5 reasons why Leicester City will find it difficult to finish in the Top Four

The English Premier League this season has been as topsy-turvy as it can get. It almost feels like none of the teams want to win it, with literally every club dropping points like there was no tomorrow. In all of the hoopla, Leicester City have made the most of this bizarre season and are currently at an unbelievable second place in the table.While it was a novelty to be talked about in the first half of the season, their steady performances have meant that they are genuine title contenders now, and if nothing else, should, at least, finish in the top 4. However, not everyone is convinced that the Foxes have what it takes to qualify for the Champions League, let alone win the title.True, they may have been one of the more consistent teams in the league this season, but there are still a few arguments against why they won’t be able to do it.

#1 Fixture List

Leicester will face Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in three of their next four EPL fixtures

The first and the very obvious reason would be the fixture list. They have a host of strong teams to play, and at the business end of the season, these fixtures would take a toll on them. They are already dropping points, with draws against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

For a team facing the task of winning the title or staying in the top 4, winning such games would be extremely important, especially in the second half of the season. Dropping points won’t do them any favours, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Liverpool ready to take advantage.

While it is not impossible, it is definitely a very difficult task to continue their fine run of form at a time when the pressure is on them to get the job done.

#2 Experience

Can Ranieri help his boys perform under pressure?

Leicester City have not been in this position in the Premier League ever before. The prestige and the amount of money that comes in with finishing in the top 4 means the pressure is equally high. A slip here and a loss there could drastically change their position.

Even the best teams, who are expected to maintain the form, have slipped up under the immense pressure. Tottenham Hotspur had a 13 point lead over Arsenal in the 2010/11 season, and yet somehow managed to botch it up and let their hated rivals overtake them to 4th spot.

David Moyes couldn’t get Manchester United to finish in the top 4, even with a title-winning squad at his disposal. Liverpool have been trying since forever to get into the top 4 but have only managed it once in the recent past, after which they dropped back again. The odds are stacked against Leicester on this one.

#3 Squad and Injuries

Vardy’s injury was deemed not too serious by Ranieri

With the games coming thick and fast, squad strength will be of utmost importance. While Leicester have been doing great in terms of the team putting in the performances to stay where they are, with the games coming in thick and fast over the next few months, manager Claudio Ranieri will need to rotate his squad more frequently if he has to make sure the players don’t suffer fatigue or even worse, injure themselves.

Jamie Vardy has just come off an injury himself, and the team can’t afford to lose any more players. But whether the rest of the squad can do the same as they have been doing is a question that only time will answer. In the past, Arsenal have shown that while their starting eleven is one of the best, the rest of the squad is less than useless, with even one or two injuries derailing their season every year.

Whether Leicester can cope with the FA Cup and the league fixtures with the squad they have is something to be seen.

#4 Rival teams

The Red Devils have started churning out results somehow since the start of this year

Leicester City will not only have to worry about themselves and their chance to make history but will also need to worry about their rivals too. While Arsenal and Manchester City are certain to finish in the top 4, it leaves two spots open and a thousand teams wanting a share in those two spots.

Spurs, currently fourth place, will want to finish third at least so that they can gain an automatic qualification to the Champions League. For Manchester United, a season out of the Champions League would be unthinkable and they will fight till the last to get in there.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will also want to try and get back to where they belong. In between all of them, the likes of West Ham United and Stoke City will feel they have a legitimate chance of European football and will want to take a shot at it. And we haven’t even mentioned Chelsea yet.

#5 Defensive frailties

Leicester's defense was unable to keep a rampant Arsenal side at bay

Leicester, while being one of the free-scoring teams in the league, have shown a propensity to concede quite a few goals. For a side that is aiming to finish in the top 4, it is important that they remain tight at the back. But they have conceded 26 goals this season, presently the joint worst in the top 8 eight teams in the table.

Though they have become defensively more adept in the last few games, but until and unless they can be sure of keeping the opposition out, they will find it difficult to maintain their top 4 position going into March and April. And while January gives them a chance to strengthen in those areas, it is highly unlikely they will find a solution good enough to ensure that they can keep flying high in the league.