Leicester City succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away at Watford on Saturday, which was their sixth Premier League loss of the season.

That is already double the amount they lost in last year’s title-winning campaign, and there is a lot for manager Claudio Ranieri to think about going into their Champions League clash with Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Although their domestic form has been disappointing, the Foxes have done very well in Europe, and they know that if they avoid defeat in their last two group matches, they will be in the last 16 of the competition.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Victories over Brugge, Porto, and Copenhagen have given them an excellent chance of progression, and the away draw at the latter a few weeks ago has all but booked their place in the knock-out stages.

However, Foxes boss Ranieri will seek to top the group and try to build momentum which can be transferred into their league campaign, with his side currently 14th in the Premier League having won just three of their first 12 league games.

With many things to think about ahead of tomorrow’s game, Ranieri may consider dropping a few of his first-team players, so here are THREE he should take out of the starting eleven on Tuesday…

Danny Drinkwater

Photo: Mark Leech

The England midfielder gave the ball away and was comfortably beaten by Roberto Pereyra as Watford netted after just 33 seconds on Saturday, and you wonder whether he really was fit enough to play after facing a late fitness test.

His performances this season for the Foxes have been solid, but have been far from the high standards he set last time around – he also didn’t do enough to close down Pererya for Watford’s second.

As much as he is important to this Leicester team, a rest on Tuesday may give him more time to recover from last week’s injury.

Jamie Vardy

Photo: Mark Leech

His goal for England last week looked set to spark Jamie Vardy into life for Leicester, yet Saturday’s display at Watford was equal to many we’ve seen so far this season – not good enough.

The 29-year-old has not netted for the Foxes since their 4-1 defeat at Liverpool back in September, and he doesn’t really look like breaking that duck any time soon.

Vardy’s one shot in the game was well wide and, although he has started all four of their Champions League games, maybe it’s time to drop him from the starting eleven, despite the likely absence of Islam Slimani.

Riyad Mahrez

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Another player who looks a shadow of the man who won last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, Riyad Mahrez is struggling to reproduce his best form.

The Algeria international started the season reasonably well, both in the league and in Europe, yet has gone off the boil in recent weeks, and it may be time to take him out of the spotlight.

Giving Demarai Gray or Jeffrey Schlupp a start instead of the 25-year-old could be a better option for Ranieri on Tuesday, and could also be better for Mahrez in the long run.