Thursday 26 November 2015 13:14, UK
Manchester United come up against the Premier League's top scorer and in-form striker Jamie Vardy on Saturday Night Football. So just how do they stop the Leicester City forward who has scored in each of his last 10 games?
First of all, Louis van Gaal will need to assess what his defence will have to deal with at the King Power Stadium.
Here, with the help of exclusive analysis from Pro Soccer Development, who claim to have the most advanced player rating system commercially available in the world, we take a closer look at Vardy's strengths.
Their boffins have analysed each game of Vardy's record-breaking 10-match Premier League scoring streak to determine what aspects of his play have put him ahead of the game...
Better finisher than Ronaldo
In his past 10 games - in which he has equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for scoring in consecutive Premier League matches and scored 12 goals - Vardy has scored 1.2 goals-per-game, on average. All of those goals have come from inside the box, with Vardy registering a shots-to-goals success rate of 30 per cent. As a point of comparison, that is a higher conversion rate than previous analysis of Cristiano Ronaldo's finishing.
Vardy has also exhibited a variety of finishing skills, such as one-on-ones, tight angles, latching onto through balls and first-time finishes from crosses. He has also scored three out of three penalties.
First-class movement
Leicester play to Vardy's strengths, with penetrative passing into space capitalising on his impressive off-the-ball movement. The forward also has a high success rate with skills performed with his weaker left foot, making him an unpredictable opponent.
Vardy also regularly uses one-touch passes to encourage quick combination play in dangerous areas, linking up with strike partners such as Leonardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki. Leicester's quick counter attacks utilise this tactic, with most assists coming from Riyad Mahrez, Ulloa and Danny Drinkwater.
Takes on defenders
Whether running with the ball at defenders or using his electric pace to chase onto through balls, Vardy relishes the opportunity to take on his marker. Results from PSD's study show he can deal with any type of service.
HOW UNITED STOP HIM…As well as highlighting Vardy's strengths, the Pro Soccer Development research outlines how United can stop the Leicester forward…
Defend deep
Vardy's scored a number of goals running at and in-behind the opposition defence. United could employ a team strategy of quickly dropping deep when Leicester regain possession. This will give them two advantages; firstly it will deny space available for Vardy to run into where he's proven to be so emphatic and secondly, it will reduce Leicester's opportunities to counter-attack as a team by forcing them to play in front.
Restricting midfield service and support
Vardy thrives on quick one-touch combination play with players breaking forward from midfield in support. It will be important to initially try to prevent service to Vardy, although when that's not possible, tracking supporting midfielders to stifle the return pass will be crucial to stop attacks building.
With Manchester United potentially setting up in a 4-2-3-1, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger should operate a defensive screen in front of the back four to restrict through balls in to Vardy, and also to take up the space that any Leicester players may wish to occupy to combine with the prolific striker.
By denying Leicester City the opportunity to play forward it will isolate Vardy. This will allow United to defend with bodies behind the ball and have passing options around the ball when possession is regained.
Defensive Third
When play moves into the United defensive third they should look to man mark Vardy. Putting a man marker on him will give him less time and space to look to finish and may restrict him to long distance shots, which statistically is a weaker area for him.
Watch Leicester v Manchester United live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm on Saturday Night Football
