Another Mad campaign as Foxes go up to third
JAMES MADDISON scored twice and Jamie Vardy marked equalling a Leicester record by netting his 12th goal of the season as the Foxes crushed struggling Brighton.
The prolific Vardy made his 222nd Premier League appearance for the Foxes, moving level with the number of times Muzzy Izzet represented the club in the competition.
Victory moved Leicester into third in the Premier League, one point behind Tottenham and Liverpool, while Albion remain mired in 16th following just one victory in their last ten league games – a dismal run that will increase the pressure on boss Graham Potter.
An open start to the match saw good chances at both ends, with Kasper Schmeichel making a couple of fine saves to deny the visitors and Vardy seeing a shot strike the post.
Leicester, for whom Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi made his first league start since September, took the lead after 27 minutes when James Justin’s cross eluded Vardy and dropped nicely for Maddison, whose shot looked to take a deflection past keeper Mat Ryan.
Vardy was then on hand to tap home Justin’s low cross from close range, the home side’s second goal four minutes before the break surviving a VAR check for offside.
The Foxes were rampant and Maddison, with a performance sure to be noted by England manager Gareth Southgate, made it 3-0 before halftime, twisting and turning inside the penalty area before curling a leftfooted shot into the top corner.