Jamie Vardy's second-half strike decided a tight game at Goodison Park as Leicester overcame Everton 1-0 in the Premier League's opening game of 2019.
Both sides made scrappy starts to the proceedings at Goodison Park, as errant passes littered the opening 20 minutes. Jonjoe Kenny's thumping drive that rattled the crossbar was the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock.
The full-back's rasping drive proved to be the best chance in an opening 45 minutes that Everton slightly shaded, as both sides failed to truly threaten either goalkeeper during a first-half that was in jeopardy of boiling over on a couple of occasions.
Despite an uninspired first half, Leicester improved in the second and managed to take the lead with Vardy's fifth goal in his last six games against Everton.
Michael Keane's poor touch allowed Ricardo Pereira to play in the Leicester striker, who produced a composed finish beyond the efforts of Jordan Pickford to score the Premier League's first goal of 2019.
The 1st #PL goal of 2019 belongs to @vardy7 pic.twitter.com/A1rjR9wdqx
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 1, 2019
Everton had chances to equalise as they saw more of the ball, but Gylfi Sigurdsson blazed his effort over, while substitute Cenk Tosun would fire straight at Kasper Schmeichel after Jonny Evans' header found the Turk in a great position.
Harry Maguire wasted a golden opportunity to double Leicester's lead with seven minutes remaining as he fired over Ben Chilwell's cross, before
EVERTON
Key Talking Point
After a dismal December with one win in their seven Premier League games, Marco Silva would've hoped to start 2019 on a positive note, although their display against Leicester gave little cause for optimism.
Despite having more attempts and more possession, their was little intensity in their play, as Schmeichel had very little to do all afternoon up until added time in the second half, while their insipid performance was compounded by Leicester's winner, which stemmed from Keane's initial error.
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Pickford (5), Kenny (6), Keane (4), Zouma (5), Digne (5); Gomes (5), Gueye (6); Walcott (5), Sigurdsson (6), Richarlison (5); Calvert-Lewin (5).
Substitutes: Bernard (6), Tosun (5).
STAR MAN
One of the few positives for Everton was the decent display of Jonjoe Kenny, who was the best player in the first half. He almost scored the opening goal with a rasping drive that rattled the woodwork, but his performance dipped in the second-half.
WORST PLAYER
It was an awful error from Michael Keane that gifted Leicester their winner, while the centre-back was also fortunate not to give a penalty away for a handball late into the game.
Remind me please cos I forgot.. how much did the Bitters pay for Michael Keane..? Was it £30 m? He’s absolutely awful n having a ‘mare v Leicester. 藍藍藍藍藍藍
— geoff k. (@GeoffKennah) January 1, 2019
LEICESTER CITY
Key Talking Point
After not including the likes of James Maddison and Marc Albrighton in the starting XI, Claude Puel turned to the latter at half-time to inject some life into the game with great effect.
Leicester caused Everton a number of problems in the second half as they played more to Vardy's strengths of long passes and balls into the box from wide errors, which is where the winner came from, albeit via a sloppy piece of play from Keane.
Wins against Chelsea and Manchester City looked to have bought Puel more time, before a defeat to Cardiff put the pressure back on the Frenchman, so he will be hoping to kick on in 2019 off the back of the win.
Player Ratings
Starting XI:
Substitutes: Albrighton (7*), Gray (N/A).
STAR MAN
Marc Albrighton was key to Leicester's win, as his introduction at half-time sparked the Foxes into life following a poor showing in the first-half.
Looking to play the ball forward quickly to play to Vardy's strengths, the winger looked a threat every time he had the ball, and will surly have to start in Leicester's next fixture.
Jonny Evans also deserves a notable mention for an impressive display at the back.
Marc Albrighton has completely changed this game, came on at half time and could genuinely be man of the match #EVELEI ⚽️❤️
— Kevin McLaughlin (@MrKevMac) January 1, 2019
Marc Albrighton is really underrated by non Leicester fans. Such a consistent performer
— Jamie (@jaymartin17) January 1, 2019
WORST PLAYER
Rachid Ghezzal had a first-half to forget, as he was ineffective throughout, with his best moment being a weak effort that was routinely dealt with by Pickford, before being subbed at the interval.
Jim Beglin calling Ghezzal "a poor man's Mahrez" has been the highlight of the first half.#EVELEI pic.twitter.com/CAn7ydFL2u
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) January 1, 2019
Ghezzal is so bad, imagine going from Mahrez to him, it’s like when we signed Obertan to replace Ronaldo
— Yusuf (@XtremezDon) January 1, 2019
Looking Ahead
Both sides are in FA Cup action this weekend, as Everton host Lincoln City, while Leicester travel to Newport County.
When the sides return to the Premier League action the following week, Silva's side remain at home to face Bournemouth, with Puel's side hosting his former team Southampton at the King Power Stadium.
Source : 90min