3 things learned from Leicester City’s defeat to Manchester United

Promise shown by young English trio

There were still plenty of positives to garner from Sunday’s defeat. Leicester City were dominant for large periods of the match and can count themselves as extremely unlucky to come away with nothing.

Above all, the standout positive was seeing the East Midlands side’s three best creative prospects working fluidly behind Vardy. Harvey Barnes, making his first senior start at the King Power, caused United’s experienced defence plenty of trouble.

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The 21-year-old came into the side at the expense of the injured Marc Albrighton, delivering a performance that the former Aston Villa winger would’ve been proud of, making two key passes and completing two dribbles in the United third.

Similarly, James Maddison was equally dangerous to United’s goal, completing an impressive four dribbles and three key passes. Both Barnes and Maddison’s performances were complemented by fellow England youngster, Demarai Gray, who has seen a recent upturn in form for the Foxes.

The effervescent trio produced multiple swift moves in the final third, giving City fans plenty to be excited about for future games in which the three are involved. Unfortunately Maddison was controversially replaced in the 62nd minute, prompting loud boos from a large portion of the crowd, aimed at Claude Puel, who had this to say on the substitution:

"“It was a moment when we had difficulties to recover the ball and I wanted to give more possibilities and freshness to make the pressing, to try to hurt them, to recover the ball early and to have more of the ball in our feet to have other chances,” “We finished the game stronger with a lot of possibilities and chances. If we have some players, an attacking player on the bench, and we are having difficulties to find the energy to finish the game, I have no problem to put them on the pitch because we want to keep and maintain all the time the right level.” Via Leicester Mercury"

This is not the first time that Maddison was extracted earlier than he would have liked, which begs the question, is the former Norwich man fit enough?

Nevertheless, it was a shame to hear fellow City fans booing as Rachid Ghezzal took to the pitch, regardless of where those boos were aimed. It would have done the Algerian‘s confidence no favours. Just as Ben Chilwell encourages – let’s get behind the boys!