Brendan Rodgers hailed Luke Thomas for keeping the ‘dynamic’ Helder Costa quiet during Leicester City’s 4-1 away win at Leeds United on Monday night, speaking to the Mercury.
In many ways, the Whites’ £17 million winger must have felt like he was back in the Championship as the rain tumbled down at Elland Road.
Costa has frolicked in the wide open spaces of the Premier League since promotion but, as Brendan Rodgers turned to the tactic that earned iconic wins at Man City and Arsenal, the Portugal international was forced to deal with the sort of problems he faced week-in, week-out in the second tier.
Namely, coming up against a deep-lying defensive block and a full-back ready and willing to mark him out of the game.
19-year-old Thomas, in just his fourth league start, certainly ‘did a job’ on Costa as a counter-attacking Leicester side secured another eye-catching away win.
“Luke Thomas was outstanding playing against Costa, who’s really dynamic but he controlled him really well,” Rodgers said after a result which lifts the Foxes into second place.
Leeds did have their moments on Monday.
The in-form Patrick Bamford missed a pair of glorious chances and Stuart Dallas’s goal briefly threatened a comeback before Leicester struck twice in the final few minutes through Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans.
But with Crystal Palace coming up on Saturday, it will be interesting to see how Leeds deal with another team willing to sit back and hit them on the break.
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