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This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

Brendan Rodgers' slight tweak to Leicester City’s formation paid off on Saturday afternoon as the Foxes won 2-1 at Bramall Lane to go fourth in the Premier League table.

Their opening goal was a thing of beauty – not because it was an outrageous screamer from long-range or an incredible scorpion-kick but because of the mix of work-rate and class.

Ayoze Perez robbed the ball from beneath Chris Basham before handing the ball to James Maddison who played a skilful outside of the foot through ball into space for Jamie Vardy to latch onto as he powerfully guided a left-footed strike home.

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Chris Wilder made some changes just before an hour on the clock and it only took Oliver McBurnie eight minutes to make his mark, heading home the equaliser.

That was before Rodgers’ own throw of the dice meant that maximum points returned to the King Power Stadium as Harvey Barnes lashed in a crisp half-volley from the edge of the box.

The key takeaway from the match was the Northern Irish man electing for two strikers in attack with Perez pairing Vardy which allowed Maddison to occupy that number ten role in front of a base of three.

On the chalkboard

It may be a formation or idea of playing two up top that Rodgers should continue to operate with.

Letting go of Islam Slimani despite only having two other ‘strikers’ at the club looked to be a strange move but if anything, this victory has proved that he wasn’t needed.

Perez can play central, as he did so for Newcastle United.

In fact, it has to be considered his best position. He has failed to live up to his £30m price tag so far this season but that is because he’s been wasted out on the right-flank – he’s had no goals or assists yet this season.

Against Wolves and Chelsea, the 26-year-old could only muster a best rating of 6.58.

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In this game against the Blades, the Spaniard was able to record a rating of 6.99, his best of the season so far so that is an encouraging sign going forward.

Not only that, when you analyse where his goals were scored from during his time at Newcastle, you’ll soon learn that just 6% of his 33 strikes in England have been from outside of the box – including one against the Foxes, actually, as per Understat.

Perez isn’t going to get into the positions he was in above by playing out on the right-wing, therefore his influence in this Leicester team is only going to be held back until he’s played centrally.

Against the Blades, he showed that was his better position as he recorded his best rating of the season yet.

The bigger the circle in the image above, the bigger the expected goal and as you can see a bunch of them are right by the goalmouth, showing just how clinical he can be when more central and closer to the opposition net.

Rodgers must use his blueprint from Newcastle to breed the best from Perez in the Midlands.

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