Pep Guardiola’s men can move past Liverpool and return to the top of the table by beating Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Rodgers could do his former club – without a league title since 1990 – a favour by avoiding defeat and the Northern Irishman feels Vardy can have a huge impact.
“He does strike fear into opponents, there’s no getting away from that,” Rodgers told UK newspapers of Vardy, who has scored 18 Premier League goals this season.
“When I was preparing a team to play against him you just knew you’ve got to be really careful against him.
“If you don’t counter-press the game well and there’s space to play that pass, he’s going to hurt you – and he’s a goalscorer.
“If you watch him and see his ability to score a goal, and his threat, you’ll always be mindful of it. But that’s the Premier League – top players, top strikers – and you’re always having to find a way to nullify that.
“It’s absolutely brilliant to have him on your side.”
Leicester are ninth in the Premier League table and could jump to eighth with a win.
A victory would see City return to the top heading into the final day of the season, when they visit Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool host Wolves.
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