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Survival is the priority for Leicester. This is a club in a different era to the all-conquering, history-making, swashbuckling title-winners of 2015-16 and the competitive side of the Brendan Rodgers era who twice finished fifth and won the FA Cup in 2021.

They remain without a manager, with Graham Potter and Carlos Corberan the frontrunners to fill the position left by Enzo Maresca's move to Chelsea earlier this month, and the new man's goal will be staying in the Premier League.

A reunion with the coach who guided them back to the Premier League is due to come on 23 November when Chelsea visit King Power Stadium.

Before that, Leicester host Tottenham in the final game of the opening weekend of the season on 19 August, meaning they could be looking at an even bigger gap by kick-off on a Monday night.

They face the prospect of starting the season with a points deduction, having been charged in March with breaching profit and sustainability rules.

The Foxes avoided a penalty last season, with the English Football League powerless to punish clubs for Premier League breaches, but they also need to ensure they are compliant with PSR by 30 June to avoid a second charge.

The opening six games include a visit of Aston Villa and a trip to Arsenal, but it is the final few matches which will are perhaps the most intriguing.

Leicester face Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich in May before a final-day trip to Bournemouth; fixtures which, regardless of any points deduction, are likely to define their fate if the relegation fight is tight.

To ensure they remain in contention will be a mental battle as well as a physical one.