A Jamie Vardy hat-trick helped champions Leicester City get their Premier League season back on track with a comprehensive victory over Manchester City.
GK: Ron-Robert Zieler (6/10) – With just nine minutes left to play, Zieler almost provided Leicester with their first Premier League clean sheet since early October. Unfortunately, Kasper Schmeichel’s stand-in could do little to keep Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-kick, nor Nolito’s finish, from hitting the back of his net.
RB: Danny Simpson (7/10) – When faced with the combinations of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling, Leicester’s right-back appeared to handle any threat with comfort. Simpson is a crucial cog in Leicester’s defensive machine.
CB: Robert Huth (7/10) – Along with Wes Morgan, Huth managed to mop up most second balls and knockdowns against a disappointing Manchester City attack. Huth’s performance probably did not deserve the concession of two goals.
CB: Wes Morgan (8/10) – Leicester’s captain led by example and threw himself at everything Manchester City had to offer. Morgan likely had more blocks and headed clearances than completed passes, whilst demonstrated the level of leadership that his more-monied City opponents desperately needed.
LB: Christian Fuchs (7.5) – The left-back ensured that Jesus Navas and Pablo Zabaleta were kept quiet on Leicester’s left side. Fuchs provided an accurate delivery in contributing to the third Foxes’ goal.
RM: Riyad Mahrez (8.5) – An exquisite touch to supply the assist for Vardy’s second minute opener was then followed by a marvellous pass for the third. This was a return to the displays of the 2015-16 Mahrez-standard campaign. Replaced by Matty James in added-on time.
CM: Andy King (8/10) – The midfielder’s disciplined performance was in addition to King’s tidy fourth minute strike from the edge of the area – which stemmed from a long throw and lay-off from forward Islam Slimani. King certainly got the better of Fernando in the midfield engine room.
CM: Daniel Amartey (6/10) – Not spectacular, but Amartey shielded the Leicester defence effectively and helped the industrious duo of King and Albrighton subdue Manchester City’s plethora of midfield talent.
LM: Marc Albrighton (7/10) – One of many unsung heroes for Leicester, Albrighton’s understated yet productive performance outshone any effort and application that Manchester City could muster.
FW: Islam Slimani (8/10) – Waltzed around the Manchester City defence on too many occasions, Slimani was afforded a relatively fun and easy experience by the City back line – with a performance full of zest and vigour. Withdrawn to a standing ovation for Asian Player-of-the-Year, Shinji Okazaki (6/10), on the 77th minute.
FW: Jamie Vardy (9/10) – The Leicester hit man opened the scoring after just two minutes of the game with a typical Vardy-esq run and finish, to end his barren spell of three scoreless months and to ignite his man-of-the-match performance.
Vardy’s second arrived in the 20th minute – before he converted Leicester’s fourth goal, and bagged his hat trick, with an incredible finish from almost the dead-ball line, confirmed by goal line technology.
This was Vardy’s fist hat trick since a trio for Fleetwood Town against Ebbsfleet United back in 2012. Claudio Ranieri withdrew Vardy, for Demarai Gray, to deafening applause in the closing stages.
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