Magician Mahrez takes centre stage
Riyad Mahrez thrived ved on the extra created responsibility by ny Jamie Vardy’s absence as Leicester gained their first win in six matches and were finally able to give a debut to £22million n midfielder adrien Silva.
With Vardy nursing a groin injury ury and restricted to cheerleading ing from a corporate box, hopes were pinned on Mahrez to lift his team-mates.
The algerian did not disappoint, breaking the deadlock with a brilliant side-footed volley with his left foot after 53 minutes, then setting up compatriot islam Slimani for the second goal shortly after.
Even so, the ovation when he left the pitch after 76 minutes was only the second loudest of the afternoon. That was reserved for Silva, who ended one of the stranger transfer sagas of recent times when he replaced Matty James.
Silva was signed from Sporting Lisbon at the end of the summer but has been left kicking his heels ever since because the paperwork was filed to FiFa 14 seconds after the deadline.
The Portugal international received a rapturous welcome when he entered wearing the No 14 shirt — perhaps a cheeky dig at the authorities — and he was able to join the on-pitch celebrations when Marc albrighton deservedly added a third goal at the end.
as for Mahrez, six of his eight goals this season have come since Puel joined the club in late October. asked what he had done to transform the winger back into the title-winning PFa Player of the year of 2016, Puel quipped: ‘i speak better French.’
The downside to Mahrez’s hot streak is that bigger fish might try to take him this month.
‘it’s speculation. Riyad is with us and i would like to keep all my best players,’ added Puel. ‘it was a fantastic game for him. He was fresh and played with quality and intensity. We are getting the ball to him more and he can make a bigger difference on the pitch.’
Huddersfield arrived at the King Power protecting a four-match unbeaten run. They had the only shot on target of a dreadful first half but wasted their best chance as danny Williams went down looking for a penalty instead of shooting when past Harry Maguire. ‘i thought at the time that with the right desire he could go for goal,’ said Terriers boss david Wagner in a rare outbreak of candour for a Premier League boss.
Leicester, minus skipper Wes Morgan who limped off with a hamstring injury, made Huddersfield pay in the second half with Mahrez to the fore. The visitors did a decent job of clearing a throw from Christian Fuchs but when albrighton’s hook back into the area fell to the Mahrez, he wrapped his left foot around the ball to fire past Jonas Lossl.
‘We lost the man. We know after 22 games that small margins can decide the game at this level,’ bemoaned Wagner.
Once in front, Leicester never looked like ceding control. Mahrez played a perfect pass to Slimani, who made the most of Vardy’s absence to accelerate and clip a tidy finish over Lossl for his first Premier League goal since april.
The roof nearly came off when Silva was sent on by Puel as Leicester’s final change, having spent the last few months training without being able to play.
‘it’s been hard for him but he’s kept fantastic positivity. He’s made a lot of effort, more than anyone, to stay fit,’ said the Foxes boss. ‘He deserved to come into the game. Now he can bring a good feeling to the team in the future.’
albrighton should also be mentioned. He gave another tireless performance and it is incredible he has never won an England cap while many inferior players have.
Certainly he deserved his goal at the end, tapping in after Slimani’s barnstorming run and a deflected cross by demarai Gray had landed at his feet.
Leicester are now only four points behind Burnley and must fancy their chances of being ‘best of the rest’ this season behind the Big Six.
Their next match is in the Fa Cup third round at Fleetwood, Vardy’s former club. Puel wants to give the striker every chance to play. ‘We won’t take risks but it’s not a big injury,’ he said.
LEICESTER (4-4-2): Schmeichel 6; Amartey 6, Maguire 5.5, Morgan 6 (Dragovic 28min, 6), Fuchs 6.5; MAHREZ 8 (Gray 76, 6), Ndidi 6, James 6 (Silva 86), Albrighton 7.5; Slimani 6.5, Okazaki 5.5.
Subs not used: Hamer, Iheanacho, Iborra, Ulloa. Scorers: Mahrez 53, Slimani 60, Albrighton 90+2. Booked: Morgan. Manager: Claude Puel 7. HUDDERSFIELD (4-2-3-1): Lossl 6; Smith 6 (Depoitre 81), Jorgensen 6.5, Schindler 7, Lowe 6 (Malone 74, 6); Williams 6, Mooy 6; Lolley 6, Ince 6, Van la Parra 5.5 (Quaner 58, 6); Mounie 6. Subs not used: Coleman, Hogg, Crainie, Hadergjonaj. Booked: Lowe. Manager: David Wagner 6. Referee: Graham Scott 7. Attendance: 31,748.