Despite a sluggish start to the 2022/23 campaign, Leicester City seem to have their mojo back after a 2-0 win against Everton. But which players were the three stand out performers?
On Bonfire night, the Foxes scored two rockets courtesy of Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes which earned a second successive win and clean sheet away from home.
Brendan Rodgers’ side looked like their old selves as the entire starting eleven impressed on the night. However, these three were head and shoulders above the rest of the side.
The Majestic James Maddison of Leicester City
With the World Cup just two weeks away, James Maddison decided to drop yet another midfield masterclass to signal why he has to be in the 26-man England squad.
A constant threat, Maddison made Goodison Park his playground as he toyed with Vitaly Mykolenko on the right-hand side. He made it impossible for the Everton midfielders to track him as he did what he does best – receiving the ball in between the lines on the half turn.
Maddison went close with a plethora of attempts in the first half, seeing efforts squirm wide of Jordan Pickford’s posts. It was only a matter of time before he contributed to a goal, as he set up Youri Tielemans’ screamer on the stroke of half-time.
The playmaker’s instinct to react to the loose ball in the box created the chance for Tielemans before the Belgian unleashed his goal of the season nomination. The second goal was trademark Brendan Rodgers Leicester; ruthless on the counter. Maddison still had the energy to dart forward on the break and drive into the opposition box. He could have easily went alone, but his elite decision making allowed Harvey Barnes to lash the ball into the top corner instead.
As well as two assists, Maddison accumulated the most shots (eight), most touches in the opposition box (12) and completed four key passes. A simply stellar performance. Surely Gareth Southgate, surely?
‘Then I saw Wout Faes, now I’m a believer’
Yesterday’s showing epitomised why he has been the perfect Wesley Fofana replacement. Faes kept Dominic Calvert-Lewin quiet before the striker was forced off injured, then kept replacement Neal Maupay silent for the entire game.
The Belgium ‘CB’ won the ball back six times, won four duels and made four clearances, all of which were vital for Leicester catching their opponent vulnerable on the counter-attack. Defending set-pieces has been Leicester’s downfall over the best part of three seasons, but they have now gone 50 corners without conceding in the Premier League, and Faes has been an integral part of that.
The best bit about Faes is that he absolutely loves defending. He constantly puts his body on the line, doesn’t mind flying into challenges and has the ability to smell danger whenever the team are under the cosh. He has revolutionised the Foxes back-line as Leicester have won 50% more games with him being in the side. Without Faes, Leicester have not won a single game in the Premier League.
Trademark Youri Tielemans Worldie
Only Belgium’s number eight could somehow better his 30-yard screamer in his previous away game against Wolves. After seeing several chances go agonisingly wide, LCFC had to make the breakthrough otherwise they’d have been punished. It needed a moment of magic from Tielemans to make the breakthrough.
The technique oozed class. Set up with the knee, head over the ball, crisp connection. Exactly what the doctor ordered. The strike epitomised his performance on the whole. Tielemans wasn’t afraid to create angles and receive the ball in tight areas, and was comfortable playing quick passes on one touch so his team could progress up the pitch quicker.
Tactically, his positioning was intriguing: the Anderlecht Academy product often drops deep and slightly to the right to support the occasionally vulnerable Boubakary Soumare. This also allowed teammate Timothy Castagne to occupy higher positions.