Leicester City started their Europa Conference League campaign in the best possible way last night as they beat Randers 4-1 in the first leg of the knock-out fixture. It was a refreshing performance, with the Foxes picking up win for the first time in over a month – the 4-1 FA Cup win over Watford in January.
Refreshingly, Brendan Rodgers played a strong starting XI against their Danish opposition, a sign that he is taking this competition seriously. In the first half, Leicester looked dangerous, yet missed the final clinical shot – though this could be down to the superb performance from Randers’ ‘keeper Patrik Carlgren. After finally getting their goal, City couldn’t capitalise, instead conceding a shock equaliser.
The second half was a different story, with Randers’ lack of match fitness exposed, Leicester took full control, putting 3 more goals on the opponents. The game fizzed out after that, but it was exactly the display that Leicester needed in their efforts to regain any form ahead of a tough fixture at Wolves on Sunday.
Without further ado, here are the player ratings from last night. Please click the link provided below entitled ‘Leicester starting XI rated’ in order to access the content.
Leicester City starting XI
Kasper Schmeichel (C) – 7
Randers’ approach of sitting deep meant that Schmeichel had a fairly quiet evening, but was reliable when called upon. His first call to action was a comfortable catch which he held onto. It wasn’t a perfect night for the skipper; his distribution in the first half was sometimes wayward, and, whilst he got a slight touch on it, he could have done better with the goal from Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati.
Marc Albrighton – 7
Mr Reliable strikes again. In recent years, we’ve seen Albrighton appear all around the pitch, though this is his first appearance in quite a while as a left-back in a back four. Going forwards, Albrighton made some great runs and again produced moments of real skill – something he’s making a habit of in recent times.
Defensively, it’s clear that Albrighton isn’t a fullback, especially in a back four. He works well as a wing back, but it was his error that led to the Randers goal as he slipped whilst tracking back. Other than that mistake, Albrighton was solid, but I suspect this is the last time we’ll see him as an out and out left-back.
Caglar Soyuncu – 8
A really strong night for the Turkish international, though this may be down to his opposition as much as it was down to him. Soyuncu was physical and passed well with the ball, including some fantastic diagonal passes.
Cags nearly scored a fantastic goal which would have been a real bonus for him, but this was back to his best which was encouraging to see. His knee injury was a worry, with Leicester finishing the game a man down. Hopefully he isn’t out for a long time as this was a positive step for Soyuncu.
Jannik Vestergaard – 7
Former Foxes winger Matt Piper claimed that this was the perfect game for Vestergaard to start, and he wasn’t wrong. His passing and dominance in the air was on full display and it was, for the most part, a performance that will rebuild his confidence and begin to amend the confidence that fans have in him.
Vestergaard excelled because he had time to pass and spread the play, but when facing pace, he is a real issue in the back line which is why the Wolves game is a concern. Wolves have lost Adama Traore, but still have some real speed in Daniel Podence and Francisco Trincao and they will target Vestergaard if he starts – something likely given Soyuncu’s injury.
Vestergaard also was guilty of not pressing or even attempting to tackle Tosin Kehinde as he was allowed time on the ball to pass to Hammershøy-Mistrati for the equaliser. It was a promising display, but one that still highlights the concerns that many fans have about his presence.
Daniel Amartey – 6
In one of his first starts as right-back since the West Ham game in 2019 which resulted in his leg break, Amartey looked off of it on Thursday. His display exposed two key things: that his game is now much more suited to playing centre-back, and that Leicester rely upon pacy and attacking fullbacks.
The role of a full-back has been greatly shaped and influenced in recent years by Liverpool and Man City, and Leicester have that in Ricardo, Justin, Castagne and Thomas. Amartey simply lacks the pace, and the attacking prowess that the Foxes need out wide. Many may point to his missed chance in the first half, but on a second watch it was a much more difficult chance than first thought.
With Ricardo’s new deal at the club, as well the wealth of talent that City have at fullback, it is unlikely that Amartey will play many more games at fullback.
Wilfred Ndidi – 7.5
With a rare, well taken goal, Ndidi opened the scoring for Leicester and was strong in defence in the first half. It was a performance that we have grown used to from the Nigerian, with all his best work often overlooked. a solid shift from Leicester’s midfield rock.
Youri Tielemans – 8
When he turns it on, he really turns it on. At times, last night was vintage Youri. His passing was solid as always, but it was his dribbling that really took the eye, especially in the build up to Daka’s goal.
Unfortunately, when the game went quiet, Tielemans also went quiet, and so it was a mixed display by the Belgian. He still looks off from his best displays for Leicester, but his moments of magic were a reminder of the talent he holds. Hopefully we see more of this from the Starman before he inevitably leaves.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 9*
As each game goes on, Dewsbury-Hall gets better and better. Last night he was the best play on the pitch by far, running positively at the game from the very start. His passing was immaculate, and his dribbles were highly effective. However, the real standout in his game was the pressing. He didn’t give Randers a spare second in midfield, hurrying the Danish side into making errors or just giving the ball away.
It wasn’t just in winning the ball back that Dewsbury-Hall shone in, his attacking display was fantastic. He had two chances saved in the first half as he injected some real quality into the side. In the second half he didn’t relent and eventually got a deserved goal.
Not only did KDH outplay the opposition, but he also outplayed Youri Tielemans. As rumours circulate as to where the Belgian will be playing next season, Dewsbury-Hall’s development couldn’t come at a better time for Leicester. Oh, and it makes it all the better that he’s a local lad living out his boyhood dream. Right now, he is utterly undroppable.
Harvey Barnes – 8
In the first half, Barnes was the main attacking threat as he knew he had his fullback in his pocket from minute one. This was Barnes at his brightest, striking fear into the Randers defence as he ran at them. Barnes is still missing his shooting boots, but they will come back as his confidence builds up.
When he knows he can be effective, Barnes has a stormer. What he needs to work on is how to impact the game when it is tighter. This is his best display since away at Leeds.
Patson Daka – 7
Not the best night for the Zambian and we know he can do better. Outclassed most of the night by his two wide-men, the striker wanted the ball to his feet much more than to the space. The issue here was that Tielemans, KDH and Soyuncu were aiming to put the ball into the space rather than to his feet.
When Daka posses’ the pace that he has, he needs to utilise it more and make the runs that Vardy would. This will come, and Daka is still learning how to play in a new team. His finish – whilst offside – was instinctive and it was a real positive for him that he got his goal. Daka is now in double figures (10) in terms of goals in his debut season for the Foxes.
Ademola Lookman – 7.5
A good night for the winger, he is clearly playing with a lot of confidence right now and will now be playing to get a permanent move to the King Power. Lookman’s dribbling is his real standout ability, and he was eager to take the game to the Randers defence.
He lacked at moments, and was guilty of trying to overcomplicate his dribbles, with Barnes showing him how it was done. His best position is still on the left, but it was good to see him get a start on the right, and his two assists were deserved.
If Leicester want a versatile option out wide, then they’ll be hard pressed to find a better man for the job than Lookman, but he isn’t the right winger that they need in the summer. Where he will be playing next season is still up in the clouds, but many will want to see Lookman arrive on a permanent, especially if he keeps on contributing like he was last night.
Substitutes
James Maddison – 6.5
Perhaps 6.5 is harsh on him, and Madders did add to the quality and pace of the game, but he didn’t spend enough time on the pitch to truly influence the game, and the result was already decided before he arrived.
It was very concerning to see him go down and for the club medics to check his pulse, however he did manage to walk off the pitch himself. Rodgers said, post-match, that Maddison was feeling better, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him left out of the squad on Sunday
Kelechi Iheanacho – 7
Coming on at the same time as Maddison, Iheanacho had a brilliant dribble as he pre-assisted Leicester City’s fourth and final goal. He was hoping for the goal later on but couldn’t find the chance to do so. He operates best in a front two, and it would be great to see him and Daka together against Wolves, but with Vardy’s absence this is unlikely.
Ayoze Perez, Hamza Choudhury and Boubakary Soumare – N/A
A triple substitution as Maddison came off, his injury knocked the pace and urgency out of the game which meant that none of Perez, Choudhury or Soumare had the chance to make their own impact.