Vardy fires for Leicester, Everton topple Spurs
EVEN at the ripe old age of 33, Jamie Vardy again looks set to have a prolific season for Leicester City after getting the 2020-21 season up and running with a double in his side’s 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.
Vardy became the Premier League’s oldest Golden Boot winner after finishing the 2019-20 season with 23 goals, one more than nearest challengers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Ings.
Even with a short break between the campaigns, Vardy showed no sign of weariness in Leicester’s season opener at the Hawthorns yesterday.
Both goals were expertly taken penalties – the first of which he won himself – to ensure Vardy has scored in all five of his away league appearances against West Brom.
The only player in Premier League history to play as many away matches against an opponent and score in each match is Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United at Newcastle United. There certainly was a similarity to the Dutch striker’s pinpoint penalty-taking in Vardy’s spot kicks.
No player made more sprints than Vardy and he was a handful for promoted West Brom all game.
“He’s a box player,” Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said. “He’ll never be dropping back to join with bright intricate play, but he’s a killer in the box.
“Whether from a cross or penalty he’s got the eye to score. He never looked like missing.”
Vardy appears to have already vindicated his decision to retire from international football to prolong his club career.
The Englishman has scored 34 goals in the league under Rodgers and has netted more goals than any
other player in the top flight since March 2019.
Burnley will be working on how to stop the striker as they travel to Leicester this weekend.
Meanwhile, Everton justified the pre-season optimism as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header earned them an impressive 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier
League opener yesterday – the Merseyside club’s first win over Spurs since 2012.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side arrived buoyed by the midweek signings of Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez and French powerhouse midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure.
They both made outstanding debuts, as did fellow new Brazilian midfielder Allan, but it was Sheffield-born Calvert-Lewin who gave Everton a thoroughly deserved victory against an unimaginative Tottenham side.
After an even first half in which Richarlison wasted a great chance for Everton and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford denied Tottenham’s debutant Matt Doherty, Everton bossed the second period.
Once Calvert-Lewin sent an unstoppable header past Hugo Lloris in the 55th minute, meeting Lucas Digne’s free kick to perfection, Tottenham huffed and puffed, but offered little.