Premier League
Jamie Vardy Helps Leicester Defeat Everton
Leicester City picked up the first Premier League victory of 2019, as they defeated Everton at Goodison Park.
The only goal of the game came from Jamie Vardy who finished well after being sent through on goal from a neat through pass from Leicester midfielder Ricardo Pereira.
Leicester’s victory sees them move up to seventh place in the Premier League.
For Everton, it was another disappointing performance after their defeat to Brighton on Saturday. The Toffees struggled to create any clear cut chances despite having most of the possession.
The result sees them stay in 10th place and means they have only won one of their last eight Premier League games.
Vardy The Man Again For Leicester
Both sides looked like they were nursing a New Year hangover in the opening 15 minutes, as neither side was able to keep the ball.
The game eventually sprung into life after 19 minutes. A cross into the box by Everton left-back Lucas Digne found its way to Jonjoe Kenny. He then smashed a shot from just outside the box which cracked off the crossbar.
Just past the half hour, Everton defender Kurt Zouma had a header easily saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal when he really should have done better.
Neither side was able to really test the opposition keeper, with only two shots on target between both sides in the first half.
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy barely had a touch in the first half but on 58 minutes he put Leicester in front.
Everton defender Michael Keane gave the ball away to Ricardo Pereira, the Brazilian then played a through ball which set Jamie Vardy in on goal. The English striker then calmly slotted the ball past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
The Toffees looked for a instant response but a shot from Gylfi Sigurosson from inside the box went way over the top of the crossbar.
Everton started to build some pressure. Substitute Cenk Tosun had a shot from 20-yards out which went straight at Schmeichel.
Leicester should have put the game safe with seven minutes remaining. A great curling cross into the box from Ben Chilwell found Harry Maguire at the back post.
However, the English defender hit his shot wide of goal from only six yards out.
Marco Silva’s side pushed for a equaliser. Cenk Tosun had a great chance late on but his shot was denied by a sprawling save from Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal.
Leicester Look Like Best Of The Rest
It has been a good festive period for Leicester City. It looked like it would be a tough period of fixtures with Chelsea and Everton away and Manchester City at home.
Leicester boss Claude Puel will be delighted to pick up three victories from those fixtures. They didn’t have much possession but when they had their chance they took it.
Once again, Jamie Vardy was the match winner. The English striker had a frustrating first half and only had nine touches of the ball.
However, he showed once again why he is Leicester’s best player with a cool finish to seal all three points for the Foxes.
Over the past few weeks Vardy has voiced his frustrations at the style of play that Leicester have played under Claude Puel.
The striker feels that the slow build up play doesn’t play to his strengths, as he likes the ball to get to him early so he can make runs in behind the opposition defences.
There have even been speculation that Puel is clinging to his job because he has lost the dressing room. But with Leicester’s recent results that speculation is likely to ease over the next few weeks.
Puel’s style of play may not be for everyone but there is no denying that he is getting results like he did at Southampton and will aim to make Leicester the best of the rest during the second half of the season.
Everton Underachieving
Everton have been in poor form recently and have won only one of their last eight Premier League games.
With the money that the Toffees have spent over the past few seasons their fans would be expecting better.
There is no doubt that Everton have underachieved this season and with the players they have they should be challenging for at least seventh spot.
Are Everton better under Marco Silva than they were under Sam Allardyce? At the moment you have to say no.
They are severely lacking a striker who can score them 15-20 goals a season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun haven’t been the answer up front.
You would expect Marco Silva to sign a striker in January and they need to if they are to reach the higher echelons of the Premier League.
Their next three Premier League games against Bournemouth, Southampton and Huddersfield are all winnable.
However, if they fail to do so the pressure on Silva will only increase. Given he didn’t have successful spells at Watford and Hull City that could mean his time in English football could be numbered.
Next up for Everton is Lincoln City at home in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, Leicester travel to Wales to face Newport County in the same competition.
Photo credit to Danny Simpson via Twitter
