Leicester City have picked up just three points from a possible 18 since returning to the Premier League this season.
Steve Cooper is already starting to feel the pressure after Leicester City‘s poor start to the campaign, with the fact the Foxes are still winless in the league a real cause for concern.
After a disappointing week in which Leicester drew with Everton in the league before a 0-0 draw with League Two Walsall in the Carabao Cup, Cooper’s side endured late heartbreak to lose 4-2 away at Arsenal.
Arsenal had stormed into a 2-0 lead before half-time but a James Justin brace dragged Leicester back level in the second-half.
However, Leicester could not hang on for a point as two goals in second-half stoppage time eventually broke the Foxes’ resistance.
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Gary Lineker admits it will be ‘tough’ for Leicester City in Premier League
Despite the fact they are yet to win in the Premier League, Leicester are just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
It is not just Leicester that have struggled since promotion, as Southampton and Ipswich Town are also both yet to get a win and Cooper’s side face both fellow newly-promoted clubs in their next four games.
Gary Lineker is perhaps Leicester’s most famous fan and the Match of the Day host spoke on Leicester’s survival chances on his The Rest is Football podcast, saying: “You don’t really judge Leicester on the game at Arsenal.
“The next four fixtures are all against teams that are in similar areas so I think we’ll learn a little bit more from that.”
Lineker explained what is reassuring about Leicester, adding: “But, none of the promoted teams are getting whacked which is unlike last season. Sheffield United in particular, of course, and Burnley at times quite frequently as well. They’re not getting whacked.
“So, I look at Leicester and I think they’ve got a spirit, they’ve got a togetherness, they’ve got talent – there’s some good players in there. So, It’s going to be tough.”
Steve Cooper’s Leicester City fate will be decided by next four fixtures
In the next four games Leicester face Bournemouth and rivals Nottingham Forest as well as Southampton and Ipswich.
Realistically, these should all be considered winnable games and it is these four games that are likely to decide whether Cooper remains in charge or not.
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You could argue that six points from the 12 available would be a respectable return but the fact that any defeat would also hand points to a relegation rival means these games have the potential to be season-defining.
Leicester fans should be enthused by the battle shown against Arsenal and they now need to take this into the upcoming fixtures.