Another impressive performance from the Foxes saw them take another three points on the weekend. This time it was at the Amex Stadium, as they outmaneuvered a Brighton side who despite periods of impressive play, lacked the quality of their opponents.
Leicester were rife in the first half, with 10 chances to Brighton’s singular one, and they stormed into the game as you might expect a second-placed team to do so. But for all their endeavour, the ball never found the back of the net. Matty Ryan was forced into a number of saves, the Seagulls’ defenders were involved in some quite heroic clearances, and Leicester saw those shots not blocked either hit the post or slide just wide on the wet turf.
Leicester have enjoyed spectacular second-half form this season, and once again they turned up – although not in the usual way. The Foxes looked to concede possession more than gain it and, while Brighton enjoyed a dangerous first twenty minutes, it became obvious that Leicester were employing a counter-attacking style we’ve been used to seeing from them a few years ago. It did not take long for their magic to work too, with a bursting run from Jamie Vardy putting him and Perez clear against the keeper and the ball was slid from one striker to another to see Perez net his fourth of the season.
It has become a trend that Leicester see the game out with no fuss after taking the lead and Saturday did not buck that trend. Brighton continued to control the ball but looked increasingly toothless, and it was only a matter of time until another Leicester counter-attack saw Demarai Gray win a penalty for Leicester after having his foot stood on.
What happened next was something of a farce (or VARce). Jamie Vardy stepped up and saw his penalty saved – but an onrushing James Maddison headed in the rebound to collect a goal on his birthday. Or so he thought. While celebrating, a VAR check found that Maddison had impeded the box on Vardy’s taking of the penalty, but since Brighton players had also done so, it was to be taken again. Vardy made no mistake with his second attempt, sending Matty Ryan the wrong way and extending the Foxes’ lead.
From there the game fell quiet. Leicester have an excellent record from winning positions this season, and Brighton did nothing to contest it, and the time slowly bled out until the final whistle. This win saw Leicester take their fifth victory in a row, meaning they have won seven of their last eight, securing their second-place position, a single point above Manchester City after their win against Chelsea. Brighton’s loss leaves them in twelfth with Newcastle and Aston Villa still to play on Monday night.
Outplayed, but not outfought.
The relieved expressions of Leicester players and fans alike after the game were telling of a Brighton performance that in many ways matched the Foxes’. Despite being dominated for large parts of the first half, the Seagulls grew into the game and were holding their own by the time the first half ended. When the game resumed they raced out of the blocks, imbued with a fight surely instilled during Graham Potter’s team-talk.
They held the ball well, resisting the Leicester press, and passed with speed and purpose that cut through the opponents’ midfield time and again. Summer-signing Aaron Mooy put in a particularly impressive display, showing strength and passing ability that Leicester seemed unable to deal with at times – this forced Brendan Rodgers into bringing on Dennis Praet to bring additional stability to a midfield that looked to be faltering. Although the Gulls lacked in creativity, they created a handful of chances that, on another day, might have gone their way and seen them gain the upper hand. On the whole, it should be a performance to be proud of for Brighton fans – especially after the 3-1 drubbing at Old Trafford before the international break.
Brighton seem to be unsure where they stand in the Premier League following Graham Potter’s arrival – who has given them a new style and ethos to how they play. Last year’s relegation-flirting 17th place finish seems years away now, a fact that is certainly keeping fans content, but there seems to be the potential for something more.
At times, Brighton are a side capable of fluid football, as shown most notably in their impressive 3-0 win over Spurs earlier in the season; but they seem to lack quality too and have found themselves on the wrong side of results they should have won – a draw against Newcastle and a home loss against Southampton clear examples. January may be key for Potter and the Seagulls who, with an added bit of quality, can easily challenge for a place in the top half of the league.
“The best offence is a good defence.”
Another game, another win. What do a team have to do to beat, or even draw, against Leicester right now? The answer to that question is one that very few teams seem to know. The Foxes’ attack seems unstoppable, with 31 goals scored all season, the second-highest in the league and only six away from a Manchester City side famed for scoring goals, yet it is their defence that deserves the plaudits.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have conceded a shockingly low eight goals this season, the lowest goals-against record in the league by a mile and the only team still in single figures. Further than this, they have the highest number of clean sheets in the league – six. It is a record built upon a quintet of players who perform their roles, week in, week out, to perfection.
Wilfrid Ndidi serves as Leicester’s first line of defence. The defensive midfielder sits at the base of the midfielder three, behind Maddison and Tielemans, and seeks to disrupt opponent’s play before a threat can even develop. The Nigerian is at home in this role, evidenced by his 61 tackles this season which is the best in the league (there’s a trend developing here). Full-backs Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira have larger offensive jobs than they do defensive, but when defending they serve much the same role – breaking up play before a threat can develop. Ricardo is as effective at this as he is going forward, shown by the fact he has the second-most tackles in the league with 58.
If play somehow does manage to escalate beyond this, the Foxes know they currently have two of the best centre-backs in the league to deal with the trouble. Johnny Evans is more of an enforcer – big, good in the air, and a calming presence at the back. To his right is perhaps the ideal modern defender, Lord Farquaad look-alike Caglar Soyuncu.
Soyuncu has unmatched speed and strength, but fantastic vision too, often seeing how the play will develop even before the opposition does. Soyuncu is often five steps ahead of those he plays against, and even if he isn’t – he’s got the speed and strength to make up any lost ground. This was on show spectacularly on Saturday, when the Turkish defender essentially played the role of two centre-backs at once when partner Johnny Evans was substituted for Wes Morgan (who has aged more like eggs than wine).
A European tour looms
Leicester’s points haul this season only seems to point in one direction, especially when we take a look at the league placements of their upcoming opponents. Having already amassed 29 points from nine games, the second-placed Foxes now face the teams in 15th, 20th, 17th and 18th.
Wins in all those games, which now seems more like the expectation than hope, would take them up to an impressive 41 points from 17 games with only reigning champions Manchester City and 16th placed West Ham to play from the first round of fixtures (they do play Liverpool in between however). Even if they only take another three points from those two, this would see their points total from this round of fixtures lie at 44 points. Doubling this for a predicted end-of-league prediction would have Leicester sitting at 88 points – seven more than they won the title with. While contesting the title might be just out of reach against a currently unbeatable Liverpool team, Leicester seemed destined for a return to the Champions League. Foxes fans will already be booking their tickets.
Man of the Match – Caglar Soyuncu
Jamie Vardy’s goal and assist deserve recognition, but Caglar Soyuncu was Leicester’s biggest hero in blue at the Amex with another stellar display that is turning heads across Europe.
Up Next
Leicester return home for a tie against a struggling Everton outfit next Sunday, a fixture they will have no doubts about getting a win from. Brighton, meanwhile, go from facing second to facing first when they visit Anfield on Saturday. They’ll need a performance better than they’ve produced all season if they want to take anything from the game – but even that might not be enough against this Liverpool team.
