The Top Flight
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Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace: Combined XI ahead of Premier League clash

By Craig Pearson

BRUGES, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 14: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City in action during the Champions League tie between Club Brugge and Leicester City at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Bruges, Belgium. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
BRUGES, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 14: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City in action during the Champions League tie between Club Brugge and Leicester City at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Bruges, Belgium. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Steve Mandanda of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Stoke City at Selhurst Park on September 18, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Steve Mandanda of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Stoke City at Selhurst Park on September 18, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper and Defense

Two good goalkeepers will be on the field when these two teams meet on Saturday. Kasper Schmeichel proved himself last season as the Foxes went on to become Premier League champions.

But it is Steve Mandanda who gets the nod in our combined XI. Mandanda has settled quickly at Selhurst Park and must already be one of the best value signings of the summer, after arriving from Marseille for a nominal fee.

Last season, Leicester would have swept the back four positions 4-0, but it’s a totally different story this season. The Foxes don’t look anywhere near as secure defensively as they did in the last campaign.

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Daniel Amartey of Leicester City and Wes Morgan of Leicester City walk off the pitch during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Daniel Amartey of Leicester City and Wes Morgan of Leicester City walk off the pitch during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /

Even set pieces are a vulnerability for Ranieri’s team now. Palace, on the other hand, have conceded five fewer goals than their opponents this weekend. James Tomkins is proving to be another shrewd signing by the Eagles.

Tomkins goes straight into the XI at centre-back, and is joined by his teammate, Scott Dann. Dann has been injured recently but is scheduled to return and face the champions. Another Palace player comes in at right back with the reliable Joel Ward being the first full back in the team.

At left back, the first Leicester player gets on the team sheet as Christian Fuchs steps in to round out our combined XI defense.

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