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Two goals from James Maddison in a sumptuous first-half performance allowed Leicester City to capitalize on their rivals’ lapses to move closer to a Premier League top spot, but it was the way the playmaker showed signs of coming back. at its best. as much as the league table that augurs brighter for Brendan Rodgers.
The Leicester coach gave his number 10 more freedom in a role to match his jersey number and Maddison, clearly above the hip issue that restricted his availability earlier this season, rewarded faith by claiming his first pair of goals for the club.
With Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool failing to win their away games against London lower half teams earlier in the day, Leicester did an easy job seeing a Brighton side that had been gaining momentum on their travels.
Even if this result does not seem surprising based on talent and the Premier League table, it reversed the guideline to some extent: Leicester had lost four of their previous six league matches at home, while Brighton had won an impressive 14 points from his previous eight as a visitor. games dating back to last season.
Considering some of the key staff members Rodgers has missed through injury this fall, their proximity to the top of the table seems remarkable, especially since they’ve been busy winning their Europa League group while stretched. But the night Wilfred Ndidi returned to the heart of the Premier League midfield after his kidnapper operation, it was Maddison who gave them a dominant advantage at halftime after returning from a minor knee injury.
The hopeful England was already having fun at the center point between a forward two with two more defensive midfielders behind when he was late to score his first goal with a left-footed shot in the 27th minute.
James Justin’s shift from left back to right back midway through was significant for Leicester to take control as they changed forms in response to Brighton returning to 4-2-3-1. Maddison passed the ball to Justin, whose cross to Jamie Vardy was cleared by Ben White only to the edge of the penalty area. There, Maddison steadied himself to carefully position his shot towards the bottom corner, even if he could have taken away the slightest deflection from Lewis Dunk to put Mat Ryan off.
Danny Welbeck had enjoyed the best opening opportunity as Brighton, so brilliant in his travels recently, got off to a good start. But the former England striker, sent on target by Alireza Jahanbakhsh after Solly March’s ball went wide, allowed Kasper Schmeichel to attack.
When the shape change allowed Leicester to begin to take control of the game, the second goal was also provoked by Justin who swept freely down the right flank. Sent by Ayoze Pérez, Justin squared off for Vardy to score his 12th goal in 13 starts this season three minutes before halftime.
If the inevitable VAR control absorbed some of the joy from that celebration, there was no such satellite delay when Maddison, receiving a short ball from Vardy, threw to one side and then the other before deflecting an exquisite left-handed shot to the top. corner and running straight to the touchline to celebrate with his coach.
“That was a sensational blow to me,” Rodgers said. “We have a very close relationship and we had some talks because he had a difficult week in terms of his knee injury and other things, but he knows that I cover him and tonight he showed his quality.”
Despite all the respect Brighton has earned with Graham Potter (they started the night eighth in the ‘xG’ table, ahead of Manchester City), they lacked intensity and did not adapt in time for Justin to win the freedom of create the first two goals.
Just two points above the relegation zone, they face Fulham and Sheffield United this week. It’s time to turn those expected goals into reality. Potter, who hopes to recover Tariq Lamptey from a hamstring injury on Wednesday, said: “We know how difficult the Premier League is. In general, the performances have been good, but tonight has been painful. “
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