MAHREZ SHOWS HIS MAGIC BUT STILL HAS ITCHY FEET
GIVEN that man mountain Harry Maguire was waiting for the cross, Riyad Mahrez had to be brave to shoot with the last kick of the game in the seventh minute of stoppage time. He got his reward, beating Bournemouth’s Asmir Begovic with a brilliant free-kick and rescuing Claude Puel from an uncomfortable inquest into Leicester’s poor form. It was further proof of why the club valued Mahrez at more than £80million when Manchester City came calling in January. Yet if they think that saga is over, they are sadly mistaken. Mahrez is a transfer wrangle waiting to happen. He talked afterwards about giving his all for Leicester ‘while I am here’ and moments like this will only make suitors more interested. Likewise it will only reinforce Mahrez’s idea that he is ready for a bigger stage. Arsenal wanted him in the summer of 2017, then City in January 2018. It is only a question of who will try next? ‘They
(the fans) have been fantastic — I thank them all,’ Mahrez said. ‘It was a difficult situation. Like I said, while I am here, I will give everything for the club — that’s how I am. ‘I was very pleased with the way the fans have been with me throughout... it was important for me. That’s why I will keep giving everything for the club. It’s for moments like this that you play football. I’m very happy. ‘Obviously, we didn’t get the win but at least we didn’t lose, so that’s the most important thing.’ And on the goal itself? ‘I was like, “Should I cross it?” but I thought I’d have a go. It was brave but sometimes you have to be.’ Mahrez has shot 28 times from free-kicks in the Premier League but this was the first that hit the back of the net. The timing could not have been better. Bournemouth had taken the lead through Josh King after Marc Albrighton’s clumsy challenge forced referee Lee Probert into awarding a penalty. The visitors were aggrieved by the fact that the goal arrived in the 97th minute despite there being only four added on, though their own time-wasting contributed to that. Cherries centre back Steve Cook said: ‘It is a sickening blow for us in the 97th minute. I don’t know where they have got seven minutes from.’ LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Amartey 6.5 (Chilwell 6min, 20), Morgan 6.5, Maguire 7, Fuchs 6 (Diabate 79); James 6, Ndidi 6; Mahrez 7, Silva 6 (Iheanacho 5, 59), Albrighton 6; Vardy 6.5. Subs not used: Gray, Hamer, Dragovic, Iborra. Scorer: Mahrez (90+7). Booked: Schmeichel, Silva. Manager: Claude Puel 6. AFC BOURNEMOUTH (3-4-3): Begovic 6.5; Francis 6, S COOK 7.5, Ake 7.5; Smith 7, L Cook 6, Gosling 6, Daniels 7; King 6 (Mousset 90+1), Wilson 6 (Surman 77), Stanislas 6.5. Subs not used: Boruc, Defoe, Fraser, Simpson, Taylor. Scorer: King 35 pen. Booked: Gosling. Manager: Eddie Howe 6. Referee: Lee Probert 5. Attendance: 31,384.