On a Premier League weekend that was all about VAR, this was a match that centred around VARdy. The Leicester City striker scored a hat-trick to spin Manchester City’s early lead on its head and thrust the visitors into a commanding lead. No wonder Brendan Rodgers was smiling as he congratulated Vardy with the match ball at full-time.
Leicester maintained their 100 per cent start to the Premier League campaign thanks to the 5-2 victory, and rose to the top of the table - albeit after only three games. City, meanwhile, are in need of defensive reinforcements after a Pep Guardiola team conceded five goals for the first time in 866 matches.
Vardy shows his effective touch
The Leicester City striker managed fewer touches than any other outfield player who was on the pitch for over an hour of play, yet he scored a hat-trick. In many ways, this was typical Vardy: effective with minimal touches. Of course, the hat-trick takes the headlines but he won two of Leicester’s three penalties as well. His quick movement proving too much for the brittle City backline.
Vardy’s team-mate, James Maddison, who scored arguably the goal of the game when he emerged from the bench and sent a sumptuous curler into the top corner, perhaps provided the best summary of the 33-year-old’s afternoon work: “When you’ve got Jamie Vardy in your team, you’ve always got a chance. That was peak Vardy today; winning penalties, being a nuisance, and having that quality in front of goal.”
Rodgers shows his adaptability
The Leicester manager himself said that his side had to be “different” to beat their opponents at the Etihad. “I’m very much about attacking and being aggressive,” Rodgers said. “I always try to be positive and but I need to think of other ways to get results in these games.”
On inspection of the scoreline alone, one would not say Leicester were particularly defensive in this match. But for the first half-hour they were. Set up with a back-five, that included Daniel Amartey for the first time in two years, and a four-man midfield, the visitors deployed a deep block to prevent City space in the final third. It meant that Vardy was up front alone, but he did more than his fair share of running and hustling as City pondered their next move having taken an early lead through Riyad Mahrez.
But it was when Leicester broke free from their low-lying block and began to counter with pace and intricate passing combinations that they found a brittle City defence in front of them - willing to make needless fouls and provide goalscoring opportunities. Leicester simply punished them to win ensure they have now won their opening three games of a top-flight season for the first time.
City defence needs reinforcements
This is not a sweeping judgement made after a single match, but rather a growing sentiment that City need to address. The arrival of Nathan Ake, from Bournemouth, will most likely prove good business and a reliable partner for Aymeric Laporte. But Guardiola needs more. Ruben Dias, who is on the verge of joining from Benfica, cannot come soon enough.
There was a lot wrong with his defence against Leicester; three of the backline gave away cheap penalties due to either poor positioning or a reluctance to let their man go forth. Perhaps more concerning though was that they seemed to forget how to keep the ball.
Time and again they gave the ball away and looked incapable of regaining it effectively. The full-backs are fine going forward but struggle when under pressure, as they were for much of the second half. City lost nine times last season, which is a huge number for a team of their stature, and may be on for a similar number this campaign unless the backline disposes of its brittleness.
De Bruyne shows art of set-pieces
Still, even if City have a bad day, there is normally always one positive. Kevin De Bruyne was the home side’s best player, but did drift a bit whilst City were under the cosh in the second half. He, however, gave a masterclass in set-piece delivery. The Belgian provided the corner which ended in Mahrez putting City in front and then curled further deliveries, one which Fernandinho headed straight at Kasper Schmeichel and another which Rodri headed into the net but was disallowed for offside. His right foot is simply wondrous.