Singing in the rain: Leicester beat Arsenal to claim second spot

Leicester City 2:0 Arsenal

City’s Remembrance Day fixture saw a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the KPS on Saturday evening…

Brendan Rodgers made no changes to the side that won at Palace, while the pressure was beginning to build on Unai Emery.
After the usual immaculate poppy mosaic by the club, and the sounding of the Last Post, the game kicked off in constant and heavy rain.

City pressed forward in the opening stages, with Arsenal appearing to employ a strange 5-5 formation, with the front five swarming forward on the break.
In the 6th minute a good move involving Aubameyang and Özil set up Lacazette but he scuffed his shot into the side netting.
City had an attacking spell, but the final ball was wanting, and then Maddison was fouled 25 yards out. He swung a free kick across the face of goal but Guendouzi hauled Söyüncü down as he prepared to meet the ball at the far post. It was a clear and obvious penalty. If VAR can’t give something like that then what is it for?
Arsenal went close in the 14th minute, a sweeping move upfield saw Bellerin cut back for Aubameyang, who had his shot smothered by Ndidi, Lacazette sending a shot well wide from a great position.
While Arsenal looked dangerous going forward they looked nervy at the back, a Tielemans shot was blocked, Pérez lifted an effort over the bar, and then Barnes sent a shot straight at Leno.

Pérez then sent over a cross from the right that Vardy just failed to connect with at the far post.
The chances continued to come for both sides, Tielemans volleyed wide and Bellerin forced Schmeichel to tip a lopping effort over the bar. Maddison was then fouled on the edge of the area by Torreira and sent his curling free kick a whisker over the bar with Leno rooted to the spot.
A minute before the break Barnes attempted to head home a Chilwell cross but connected with his ear and it flew well wide.
Somehow we arrived at half time without a goal.

City should have gone 1-0 up in the 49th minute when Ricardo motored past Torreira down the right and cut the ball back for Ndidi on the penalty spot, but his rising shot rattled the crossbar.
The game continued in end-to-end fashion, with Luiz sending a long-range effort wide and Bellerin blazing a 25-yarder over the bar.
Arsenal had the ball in City’s net in the 55th minute when Aubameyang side-footed home an Özil cross, but he was offside. Proper old-fashioned offside, not VAR 3mm offside.
Brandan Rodgers made his first change on the hour, replacing Pérez with Gray.
Luiz then sent Aubameyang through but swift work from Ricardo robbed him of a chance.
There was a feeling that a goal must surely come in such an open game and it finally arrived in the 68th minute. It was the end product of a superb passing move by City: Gray sent a ball infield from the right, Barnes backheeled it to Tielemans who squared for Vardy to guide the ball past Leno.

As Arsenal pressed forward in search of an equaliser they left themselves open and Vardy,slipped in by Gray, unleashed a fierce shot which Leno did well to block with his knee.
Brendan Rodgers then brought Praet on for Barnes in the 73rd minute.
Two minutes later City put the game to bed. After Ndidi had battled his way through  midfield Ricardo picked out Vardy in the area. He laid a ball off to Maddison who connected beautifully with a low shot through Bellerín’s legs, with Leno seeing it too late to react.
City then won a series of corners, delivered by Maddison, and one deflected inches wide off Guendouzi.
Arsenal looked a beaten side at this point and City did most of the attacking in the closing stages.

The final whistle saw City move up to second place and the talk now was not top six, or even top four. It was now ‘Are Leicester title contenders?’
Brendan Rodgers tried to play it down: “We’re not really thinking about the title, but if we can bring European football back here that would be great.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 60), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Praet 74), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Albrighton, Ward, Choudhury.
Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, David Luiz, Holding (Pépé 77), Bellerín, Torreira (Willock 80), Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Özil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Tierney, Papastathopoulos, Martínez, Martinelli, Saka.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: 32,209.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The Fox and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

 

 

Leicester reclaim third place with a win at Palace

Crystal Palace 0:2 Leicester City

A run of four defeats in a row against Palace was halted with a fine display at Selhurst Park earning a 2-0 win for City with second half goals from Söyüncü and Vardy.

Not surprisingly Brendan Rodgers stuck with the starting XI that beat Southampton 9-0 for this Sunday trip to south London.
After some early probing by both sides it was City who had the first chance in the 5th minute. Tielemans picked out Barnes with a pass and he took a couple of touches before firing a 20 yarder straight at Guaita.
Palace then had an attacking spell and Zaha set up Ayew for a couple of chances, one shot blocked and the other way off target.
City were beginning to take charge of the game by the 20th minute and a great move upfield involving Barnes and Maddison sent Vardy haring in on the left. But Guaita narrowed the angle well to block his shot.
Moments later Evans sent a header narrowly over the bar from a corner.
McArthur and then Van Aanholt send in wayward shots, before Schlupp had an effort from the edge of the area blocked by Tielemans. It looped up and looked to be heading just under the bar before Schmeichel opted for safety first and tipped it over.
As half time approached Tielemans almost delivered the pass of the season through to Vardy, but the alert Guaita rushed off his line to clear.

Palace started the second half on the offensive and a low Kouyaté cross from the right just evaded Ayew, with Ricardo managing to clear at the far post.
But City then got a grip on proceedings, and good work from Pérez down the right earned a corner.  Evans met Maddison’s flag kick with a thumping header that Guaita did well to tip over at full stretch.
A minute later City went ahead from another corner. With all eyes on the threat of Evans, Söyüncü ghosted through the penalty area, the ball skimmed van Aanholt’s head and the City defender stooped to head home his first goal for the club.
As Palace went in search of an equaliser Milivojevic hoisted a free kick into the area and there was a three-way clash of heads involving Cahill, Kouyate and Evans. They all recovered after spell of treatment.
There were then loud appeals for a penalty when a Schlupp shot hit Chilwell, but it struck his raised knee, not his arm.
City made their first change in the 74th minute, with Gray on for Pérez.
Palace continued to press but there was more perspiration than inspiration and some solid defending meant that they rarely threatened Schmeichel’s goal.
Rodger’s shored up that defence, bringing on Morgan for Barnes in the 84th minute, but there was to be no nail-biting finish as City wrapped up the points in the 88th minute with a fine passing move. Tielemans sent a ball in from the left, Gray dummied it, Vardy fed it back to Gray who returned it with a cutback for Vardy to deliver a low shot past Guaita. He then did an ‘Eagle’ celebration in front of the home supporters.
Praet replaced Maddison just before 6 minutes time added on began and he sent a superb 60 yard free kick to Chilwell at the far post, but his low shot struck the inside of the right hand post and somehow stayed out.
It was a well-crafted victory at a ground that has seen many a poor City performance over the years and it saw City back up to third place and Vardy at the top of the Premier League goal chart.
With the pundits talk turning from ‘top six’ to possible title candidates Rodgers was playing things down: “My senior players are first-class. The spirit is very good and they understand we are trying to create something here we can sustain. People asked about European football at the beginning of the season and I said, ‘listen, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves’ because there are some incredible teams in this league.”

Indeed there are, and it looks as though Leicester City are one of them.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, McArthur (McCarthy 78), Kouyaté (Meyer 74), Milivojevic, Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew (Benteke 78).
Substitutes: Dann, Hennessey, Camarasa, Kelly.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 74), Tielemans, Maddison (Praet 90), Barnes (Morgan 85), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Albrighton, Ward, Iheanacho.

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 25,480.

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The FOX – The Leicester City Fanzine and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

Leicester overcome battling Burton for a Carabao Cup quarter-final place

Burton Albion 1:3 Leicester City 

A late goal from James Maddison finally saw off the threat of a spirited Burton side at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday night.

Brendan Rodgers made nine changes to his side for the short trip to Burton, with possibly the most talented subs bench in the club’s history.
In a frantically paced opening spell Nigel Clough’s side pressed hard and high and didn’t give City a moment on the ball. But this left them vulnerable to the counter attack.
In the 4th minute City broke and Iheanacho stroked a shot narrowly wide.
Burton continued to play in City’s half and they were made to pay in the 7th minute. Gray sent Tielemans down the left and his low cross into the area was clipped past the advancing O’Hara by Iheanacho.
Burton went close in the 18th minute when a Boyce shot was blocked by Morgan and the follow-up from Fraser shaved the post. But two minutes later City doubled their lead with another punishing breakaway.
Praet charged down the right and set Tielemans up with a perfect cutback, the Belgian side-footing into the bottom corner.
City looked to be cruising to victory at this stage, passing the ball round well, but Gray missed a chance to put the tie to bed, blazing a shot over after Iheanacho teed him up for a good chance.
But the League One side were still a threat. Ward had to turn a Broadhead header round the post and then got down smartly to a Broadhead shot, O’Toole sending the rebound into the stand. And City took a two-goal cushion down the tunnel with them at half time.

Nigel Clough brought on the 37-year-old Lloyd Dyer for the second half and Burton seemed to find another gear. Although Praet went close early in the half, Burton halved City’s lead in the 52nd minute. City were unable to clear as the bobbled around the edge of the area and Boyce lashed a shot through Justin’s legs, catching out Ward who forearmed the ball into the net.
Burton were pressing hard for an equaliser now and Choudhury had to head a corner from Sarkic out from under the bar.
At the other end Albrighton broke clear but sent his angled shot into the side-netting.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change in the 66th minute, bringing on Barnes for  Iheanacho, who had faded after a good start.
Albrighton went clear on goal again, but his first touch took him wide and O’Hara narrowed the angle well.
Burton had a great chance to level in the 74th minute when Boyce volleyed from 7 yards but Ward made amends for the earlier goal with a brilliant reaction save.
City went close in the 77th minute when Evans header from a corner was blocked by Wallace, and then the lively Barnes had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside.
With things a little too close for comfort Rodgers brought Maddison on for Praet and then Ndidi for Choudhury.
Sarkic then had a great chance to take the game to penalties, but lifted his shot way over from close in.
The travelling City fans could finally relax in the 89th minute, when Gray found plenty of room down the right and cut back for Maddison who sent his shot across O’Hara and in at the far post.

After apparently 2-0 up and cruising after twenty minutes City had to battle hard for a place in the quarter-finals.
It would be nice to avoid Manchester City in the draw for once, on Zoe Ball’s Breakfast Show on Thursday morning…

Burton: O’Hara, Brayford, O’Toole, Wallace, Hutchinson (Dyer 45), Edwards (Sbarra 88), Quinn, Fraser, Sarkic (Templeton 88), Boyce, Broadhead.
Substitutes: Daniel, Buxton, Anderson, Garratt.
Leicester: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Evans, Fuchs, Choudhury (Ndidi 88), Gray, Praet (Maddison 83), Tielemans, Albrighton, Iheanacho (Barnes 66).
Substitutes: Schmeichel, Söyüncü, Vardy, Ricardo.

Referee: Darren England. Attendance: 6,186.

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The FOX – The Leicester City Fanzine and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

Cloud 9: Record Breaking Leicester sink Saints

Southampton 0:9 Leicester City

Leicester City recorded the biggest ever victory by an away side in an English top-flight league match in the 131-year history of the Football League on a rain-swept Friday night in Southampton…

Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged side and they were in devastating form, sweeping the Saints aside with a ruthless display of finishing.
In a night when records fell like dominoes this was the first ever Premier League match to feature two sons of former Premier League goalkeepers. But Angus Gunn was to have a much busier night than Kasper Schmeichel.
Gunn was picking the ball out of the net in the 10th minute. After a crunching tackle by Bertrand on Pérez play was waved on, Ndidi carried the ball forward and found Chilwell in the left channel.  His miscued shot reached Barnes whose shot was parried away by Gunn but Chilwell had followed up to slot the ball home.
A bad start then got worse for the home side when VAR checked Bertrand’s challenge, halfway up Pérez’s shin, and decided on a red card.
City went two up in the 17th minute. Barnes skinned Valery and Romeu down the left, his low cross was diverted by Valery to Tielemans who coolly picked his spot through a crowded goalmouth giving Gunn no chance.
City struck again in the 19th minute. Pérez went on a driving run into the area, played a one-two with Tielemans and fired home his first goal in a City shirt. Boos rang around St Marys and some Saints fans were already heading for the exits.
At this point Ralph Hasenhüttl switched his formation around and Southampton had their best spell of a miserable evening. Their first chance came on the half hour when a good passing move ended with a chance for Redmond, but with Evans bearing down on him he hurried a weak shot straight at Schmeichel.
City went close again in the 32nd minute when Barnes and Chilwell combined well, and Barnes’ shot squirmed under the keeper but he managed to recover and place a glove on it on the goal line.
But City didn’t have long to wait for their next goal. In the 39th minute Chilwell lofted a fine ball over to the far post and Pérez timed his run perfectly to crash it past Gunn on the half volley, making a very difficult chance look easy.
In the final minute of the half City became only the second Premier League side to have a 5-0 lead at half time. Ndidi played a ball out to the left, Chilwell volleyed a cross into the area and it was diverted to Vardy who neatly side-stepped Yoshida before firing home from close range.
You could only wonder what Ralph Hasenhüttl could say to his players at the break.

City showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas for the second half and continued to drive forward. The sixth goal arrived in the 57th minute. With all nine of Southampton’s outfield players camped on the 18 yard line, Barnes simply lifted the ball over them, Pérez darted through, chested the ball down and volleyed past Gunn to complete his hat-trick.
A minute later it was 7-0 with the Saints defence carved open again. Chilwell had plenty of time to size up a cross from the left and Vardy was unmarked in the middle to head home his second of the night.
Although some Saints fans were being quite vocal with their support St Marys was getting emptier by the minute and thousands of home fans headed out into the rain.
In the 60th minute the white scarves in the away end were raised in tribute to Vichai. Much credit to Southampton who featured him on their programme cover for the night.
In the 69th minute Redmond broke upfield, cut inside Evans and fired a shot that forced a fine save from Schmeichel.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change in the 72nd minute, bringing on Albrighton for Barnes, who had been superb all night.
City then went very close when Pérez took a cross from the left down beautifully and sent a low ball across the goal mouth, Evans being an inch away from prodding it home.
It was Pérez’s last contribution to the night, with him replaced by Gray. After waiting so long for his first City goal, three had come along at once.
With Evans making his teammates aware that there were records to be bagged City relentlessly pushed forward, and made it 8-0 in the 85th minute. Vardy was fouled on the edge of the area and Maddison hit a wonderful free-kick over the wall and under the bar giving Gunn no chance.
In time-added-on Vardy burst into the area and Bednarek brought him crashing down.
Vardy hammered home his spot-kick to complete his hat-trick and rewrite the record books.
The 9-0 win was the joint highest in the Premier League and, most remarkably, the highest top flight away win in the history of English top-flight football. The three points moved City up to second place, and they had now scored more goals than Liverpool.
It was the perfect tribute to Khun Vichai, two days before the anniversary of his death.

Brendan Rodgers summed up an incredible evening: “What was pleasing tonight, you may have seen games like that before, where there’s a bit of showboating because you’re comfortable in the game. But we played like a proper team. We stayed focused, we played with a purpose. We won the ball back really aggressively. We made passes to go forward and score goals. All around collectively, it was an outstanding night. It was brilliant for the supporters because they’ve travelled all the way down here on a wet night so to see their team score nine goals and be very focused, hopefully they’ll be very proud.”

Southampton: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard (Danso 45), Valery (Armstrong 70), Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Højbjerg, Bertrand, Ings (Stephens 45), Redmond.
Substitutes: McCarthy, Long, Adams, Boufal.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 74), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Albrighton 72), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Ward, Choudhury, Praet.

Referee: Andre Marriner. Attendance: 28,762.

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The Fox and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

 

Leicester pay tribute to Vichai with a victory against Burnley

Leicester City 2:1 Burnley

City came back from a goal down to beat Burnley at the KPS on Saturday, with a little help from VAR…

It was an emotional day with the club marking the first anniversary of Khun Vichai’s passing, and thousands gathered in Magazine Square for the walk to the ground.
Before the game there was a white scarf on every seat and they were held aloft during an impeccably observed minute’s silence.

Brendan Rodgers made one change to his side, with Pérez in for Praet, the Belgian having taken some time off due to a family bereavement.
City got off to a lively start, attacking the Kop end, and Hendrick was booked by Jon Moss in only the second minute as he cynically tripped Tielemans to prevent a break upfield.
But the game then settled into a pattern of City possession and Burnley defending in numbers.
For all City’s possession it was the visitors who went close in the 17th minute when a Westwood shot almost deflected to Wood but Schmeichel gathered safely.
A minute later City also went close, but Söyüncü directed his header a couple of yards wide from a corner.

A great move set up City for another chance in the 21st minute, Tielemans sending Ricardo down the right, whose cutback found Barnes. The youngster scuffed his effort, but the rebound fell for Maddsion, whose shot was guided round the post by Mee.
But it was the Clarets who took a 26th minute lead. A superb cross from McNeil on the right was met by the head of Wood, and Schmeichel couldn’t get enough of a touch to keep it out.
City were now faced with a Burnley side doggedly defending a lead. Tielemans forced a good save from Pope with a 20-yard effort and then Vardy broke clear down the left but fired his shot into the side-netting.
The breakthrough came in the last minute of the first half: Barnes made good progress down the left and delivered a fine cross onto Vardy’s head and he thumped it home from six yards. He then cupped his ear to the Burnley fans who had been giving him some stick about his wife’s Instagram spat.

City’s dominance of possession continued in the second half and they were camped on the edge of the area, but they were restricted to shooting from range by an organised Clarets’ back line. Maddison and Tielemans both sent efforts off target.
The 60th minute saw a rousing tribute to Vichai, with scarves held aloft again. Maddision had the chance to mark this with a goal, but sent his free kick into the wall.
In the 65th minute Pérez had a gilt-edged chance to get off the mark, but lifted his shot over the bar from a Ricardo cut-back. Two minutes later he was replaced by Gray.
And the substitute was involved as City took a 74th minute lead.
Gray crossed from the right, Barnes leapt over the ball leaving it for Tielemans who rifled it into the roof of the net.

After Wood had screwed a decent chance wide, Rodgers tightened things up at the back, replacing Barnes with Morgan.
With ten minutes remaining Burnley thought they had an equaliser before VAR came to City’s rescue. Wood got a touch to a cross from the right, and though Schmeichel blocked it, the ball bounced back off Wood and into the net. VAR brought an end to the Burnley celebrations, and replays showed that Wood had accidentally clipped the heels of Evans as he attempted to clear the ball off the line. It was harsh on Burnley, with Evans unlikely to clear, but he was definitely tripped.
It was now Burnley who were doing the attacking, with Pope coming up for a corner, but City managed to keep them out and seal a victory that saw them move temporarily up to second place.

Brendan Rodgers summed up an emotional afternoon:  “We were keen to make it a celebration. The supporters were incredible. We needed to tap into that emotion, we didn’t in the first half but we were much more aggressive after half-time. Today they made Vichai proud in fighting for the result.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 67), Tielemans, Maddison (Praet 73), Barnes (Morgan 79), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Albrighton, Ward, Choudhury.
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, McNeil, Westwood, Hendrick,
Brady (Lennon 65), Wood, Rodriguez (Vydra 83).
Substitutes: Taylor, Gibson, Hart, Bardsley, Long.

Referee: Jonathan Moss. Attendance: 32,105.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The Fox and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

 

FOX 214 – The Leicester City fanzine – on sale before the Burnley game

The 214th edition of The FOX – will be on sale before the Burnley game and in the shops soon…

It features: An interview with former City striker Emile Heskey; Fully Programmed from the Jimmy Bloomfield Era; Fox Diary – things are all going rather well; the latest news from the Foxes Trust;  Rewind – Lenny Glover and Rodney Fern from 1970; Foxed in the Head – on a behind the scenes tour of Filbert Street, 33 away fans and the demise of Thomas Cook; the History of Leicester City in 100 Objects; Favourite Shirts – your nostalgic nylon; John Hutchinson on John Sjoberg’s debut; your letters and Bentley’s Roof, and 50Something goes to Liverpool…

The most fun you can have for £2.50…

Emile Heskey Interview extract…

It’s no secret that City side liked a drink…
“It was Saturday after a game, on the coach back, then out until the early hours. Straight back on it Sunday. All day. Tuesday nights, The Tuesday Night Club. And then Thursdays, although the gaffer got wind of that and he stopped it.
“I’d go out with them but I couldn’t keep up. Have you seen Gerry Taggart drink? I remember going out with them once and Gerry’s brother and mates turned up. We were in this little front room of a pub and they bought bottles of beer, wine and they placed all these bottles in a circle around the pub. And they stayed there all day, drinking, the guitar came out… well, you can imagine…

You played with a few strikers at City – who was your favourite?
“That’s hard. I liked TC (Tony Cottee) because his instinct, his awareness, was fantastic. But if I had to choose one, I’d say it was Stevie Claridge.
“He was such a mess – but what a player. I think O’Neill called him a low-rent Dalglish and while that was perhaps a bit harsh, I know what he meant. He gave us so much.
“He was a shambles off the pitch, though. Martin used to like us on the training pitch for 10.30am. He’d turn up at Belvoir Drive at 10.29am, in his kit, his boots, park up and come straight out on the pitch.
“And then at the end, we’d all go in, shower, change, have lunch – and he’d be straight in his car, in his kit, in his boots, and drive off. Probably to the bookies, ha ha.
“He was only at Leicester for two seasons, too. It seems mad, that. But it’s true.

————————————————————————————————————–

Take out a subscription to The Fox and get it delivered to your door.
You can print and send the form below or pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.

Late penalty robs Leicester of a point at Anfield

Liverpool 2:1 Leicester City

City were seconds away from a earning a point at Anfield on Saturday when a last minute penalty handed victory to Liverpool…

Brendan Rodgers made one change to his side as he returned his former club for the first time, with Maddison replacing Pérez.
Liverpool, looking to extend their 100% record this season, pressed City hard in the opening spell, and should have gone ahead in the 13th minute. Alexander-Arnold skinned Chilwell on the byline and crossed for an unmarked Milner, who volleyed over from 8 yards.
But City gradually managed to get a footing in the game, with Praet looking very impressive, and they forced a couple of corners.
Liverpool were misfiring up front and when Mané did get a sight of goal he fired his shot straight at Schmeichel.
A tight game was getting niggly, with Ndidi booked for a high foot on Milner, Alexander-Arnold escaping a card for catching Tielemans on the achilles, and Robertson seeing yellow for a foul on Maddison. From the resulting free-kick Söyüncü’s firm header forced a good save from Adrián, but the offside flag was raised.
It was an even contest at this point, but Liverpool took the lead five minutes before the break. A superb long ball up the left from Milner tempted Evans to try and intercept, but he couldn’t reach it and Mané raced through and fired a low shot into the bottom right hand corner.
Just before the break Barnes sent Vardy into the area but he was crowded out by the Reds’ defence.

Brendan Rodgers made a change for the second half bringing Albrighton on for Barnes. Soon after the restart Liverpool went close when Alexander-Arnold played a low ball in the six yard area and Salah got a tough on the stretch, but Schmeichel reacted well to parry it away.
Söyüncü then earned himself a yellow card, pulling Salah’s arm just before the Egyptian entered the penalty area.
Salah and Mané then passed their way through the City back line before Evans produced a fine tackle to deny the latter as he shaped to shoot.
In the final half hour the game opened up and more chances were created. Albrighton found Vardy with a great ball behind the defence but his chest down had too much weight allowing Adrián to come out and block.
At the other end Robertson went clear on goal down the left and blasted a fierce shot that knocked Schmeichel off his feet when he blocked it.
As play moved from end to end, a cross into Liverpool’s area was half cleared to Praet, who connected beautifully with a low shot, but it went inches wide of the left hand post. He was then replaced by Pérez.
City finally made a breakthrough in the 80th minute. With his back to goal, Pérez neatly controlled, turned and threaded a ball through to Maddison who slotted the ball under Adrián.
Choudhury replaced Maddison with four minutes remaining and soon found himself in the book for a heavy challenge on Salah.
As the game entered four minutes of time added on it looked as though Liverpool’s winning run was at an end, but there was to be a sting in the tail.
Albrighton won a challenge with Origi but the ball went into the penalty area, with Schmeichel coming out to claim but Mané threatening Albrighton tried to retain possession. Mané robbed him of the ball and then threw himself to the floor after the merest contact with his left foot. Unfortunately referee Chris Kavanagh bought it and pointed to the spot. VAR chose not to overrule a clear and obvious error and Milner sent Schmeichel the wrong way with his penalty.
Although City attempted a late barrage on Liverpool’s goal the Reds winning run continued.
After the final whistle Pérez was enraged at something Robertson had done and the pair had to be kept apart.
It was a tough way to lose after City had matched the European Champions, but City’s display, if not the result, underlined City’s top six credentials.

Brendan Rodgers commented: “To come from a goal behind, it looked in that second period that we could go on and win the game. And to concede a goal when we were in control of the situation. I thought it was very soft penalty, I didn’t think it was a clear and obvious penalty, that’s for sure. But when the referee gives it, it’s probably hard for VAR to go against that, so it was disappointing.”

Liverpool: Adrián, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum (Henderson 78), Fabinho, Milner, Mané, Salah (Lallana 90), Firmino (Origi 78).
Substitutes: Keita, Gomez, Kelleher, Elliott.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Barnes (Albrighton 45), Praet (Pérez 73), Tielemans, Maddison (Choudhury 86), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Gray, Ward.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: – –

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

To get your Summer Special delivered to you door, followed by the rest of the season’s issues, you can pay online via Paypal.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – UK click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Europe click HERE.

FOX Subs 2019-20 – Rest of the World click HERE.

Or print out and post this form, along with a cheque made out to ‘The Fox’.