It is safe to say Leicester have not had the easiest start to this season. In their first three Premier League games, they have had to play Arsenal and Manchester United. Both games they lost. Their season did not get any easier today when they hosted last season’s, Champions Chelsea.
Leicester City did complete the signing of Aleksandar Dragovic on deadline day. But he did not feature in any capacity today. Robert Huth and new signing Vicente Iborra were both missing for Leicester today.
Leicester’s defence was set up very well in the first half. However, one moment of brilliance from Azpilicueta saw them 1-0 down at half time. Slimani also had a very good chance to give Leicester the lead moments before Chelsea scored.
Leicester were given a lifeline in the second half when Jamie Vardy earned and converted a penalty. However, they failed to create another really good chance and the game ended 2-1.
Here are the Leicester player ratings vs Chelsea.
Kasper Schmeichel: 6/10
Not the best performance from Schmeichel. He could have maybe done better with the Kante goal as it rolled along the floor all the way and not at great speed.
Danny Simpson: 6.5/10
Simpson didn’t do a lot wrong today. He kept Pedro very quiet while he was on the pitch and neither of Chelsea’s goals was his fault.
Harry Maguire: 5.5/10
Maguire got away with a handball in the 81st minute when Morata headed the ball down and he blatantly stuck his arm out. Luckily the ref never gave anything, either way, it was a silly decision.
Wes Morgan: 6.5/10
Morgan was the player marking Morata when he scored Chelsea’s first. He perhaps could have done better challenging Morata but it was a very good cross and hard to deal with for Morgan.
Before that, though Morgan had a decent first half including a good stop to prevent Fabregas opening the scoring in the 8th minute.
Christian Fuchs: 6.5/10
Fuchs like most of Leicester defence had a solid first half. He put in some good blocks and stopped several Chelsea crosses.
Fuchs also attacked well today and floated in a number of crosses that could have caused Chelsea some problems.
Riyad Mahrez: 6/10
Mahrez showed some real moments of brilliance today. Including some superb play on the counter attack on the 39th minute. He used his pace and skill to play Slimani through who failed to score.
However, his overall game was sloppy and Leicester fans may be wishing he had left over the summer.
Onyinie Ndidi: 6/10
Ndidi had a hard fought battle today against Bakayoko. The Nigerian picked up the first yellow card of the game in the 84th minute after fouling Willian who had beaten him. Despite working very hard Ndidi could not cope with Bakayoko who was a real menace in the Chelsea midfield.
Matty James: 6/10
James was largely outclassed by Chelsea’s midfield today. He fought well putting in some important tackles and gave it his all. He just wasn’t as good as Kante as Bakayoko.
James was subbed off on 78 minutes and replaced by Iheanacho as Leicester looked to find an equaliser.
Marc Albrighton: 5/10
Albrighton was largely absent in the first half. It will be a performance he will want to forget after being subbed at half time for King.
Jamie Vardy: 6.5/10
Vardy did well to draw a foul from Courtois on 60 minutes and then converted the penalty awarded for that foul.
Vardy came extremely close to equalling for Leicester in injury time. But he didn’t get enough on the header.
Islam Slimani: 5.5/10
Slimani struggled to get on the same page as Vardy early in the game. But he did have a very good chance to give Leicester the lead. The Algerian was one on one with Chelsea keeper on 39 minutes and he should have converted the chance.
He was then subbed off at half time for Demarai Gray.
Substitutes
Andy King: 5/10 (45 minutes)
Didn’t do too much when he came on and also struggled to deal with Bakayoko and Kante.
Demarai Gray: 7/10 (45 minutes)
Gray caused Chelsea some serious problems when he came on. Azpilicueta tackled him on 60 minutes; the rebound fell to Vardy who was then fouled by the Chelsea keeper earning a penalty.
He was probably Leicester’s brightest player today even though he only played one-half.
Iheanacho: 5/10 (78th minute)
the Nigerian was not on the pitch for long and the time he was on the pitch he failed to impact the game much.
