Foxes show flourish in putting bite on Toffees
LONDON — Jamie Vardy gave Claude Puel the perfect start to his Leicester City reign on Sunday as the former Premier League champion returned to its counterattacking best, brushing aside managerless Everton 2-0.
In a throwback to its 201516 title-winning season, Leicester caused problems for the visitor from the start, breaking with pace and purpose as Demarai Gray proved a real handful for the struggling Merseyside team.
Despite a poor start to the season that cost Craig Shakespeare his job, Leicester’s third win of the campaign lifts it to the relative safety of 11th in the standings while Everton, which parted company with Ronald Koeman last week, is mired in the relegation zone.
“I was impressed with my players,” said new Foxes boss Puel. “It was a very good first half and there were good combinations between the players for the first goal.
“It was more difficult in the second half, but I saw a team with a good attitude and good structure and solidarity.
“I want to say thanks to our fantastic fans for their warm welcome. It was a day that was perfect but it’s just the beginning I hope of something.”
The home side took the lead in the 18th minute following a surging run by Gray, who picked up the ball deep in his own half, skipped past a couple of challenges and raced over the halfway line before releasing Riyad Mahrez on the right.
Mahrez crossed for Vardy to blast into the roof of the net, sending King Power Stadium into raptures.
The host went up 2-0 11 minutes later when Jonjoe Kenny sliced Gray’s effort past the helpless Jordan Pickford and into the far corner of his own net.
It initially appeared to be an own goal but was awarded to Gray — who has struggled to pin down a first-team place during Shakespeare’s tenure — following a review.
Everton’s caretaker boss David Unsworth made a double change at halftime, bringing on Oumar Niasse and Beni Baningime for Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas.
Although that livened up the Toffees, Leicester kept them at arm’s length, limiting clear-cut chances.
The visitor enjoyed the bulk of the possession as the game wore on and Unsworth brought on Gylfi Sigurdsson for Wayne Rooney with just over 15 minutes remaining, but it was Leicester that was again the more threatening side in the closing stages.
“I went with the best team to try to win,” said Unsworth, a former Everton player.
“The first half wasn’t acceptable, but the second half we didn’t get the rewards that our dominance justified.
“Whoever gets the honor of being Everton boss, including me, needs time with this set of players.”
Earlier, Brighton and Hove Albion recovered from conceding an early goal to draw 1-1 with Southampton, leaving both clubs in mid-table.
Saints took the lead in the seventh minute when Steven Davis pounced after a brilliant freekick from James Ward-Prowse came back off the woodwork.
However, newly-promoted Brighton leveled shortly after the break when Glenn Murray headed in a Pascal Gross cross at the back post.