The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
No pressure on Foxes insists boss Rodgers
PREMIER LEAGUE: Leicester comfortable challenging at top
Brendan Rodgers will not put any pressure on his Leicester players but says the team are comfortable challenging the Premier League big boys again.
A 2-0 win at Crystal Palace – following second-half goals by Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy – moved the Foxes above Chelsea and into third position behind Liverpool and Manchester City.
Leicester are six points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal after a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions and right now look on course for the Champions League.
Rodgers said: “The team is playing well, but we are certainly not getting carried away and will not try to give the players any pressure.
“They have been absolutely brilliant since I’ve come in, they want to get better and want to learn and are hungry to learn.”
Everton substitute Cenk Tosun’s equaliser eight minutes into added time salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham in a match overshadowed by a sickening injury to Andre Gomes.
Dele Alli’s first league away goal since January looked like giving the visitors – without Harry Kane due to illness – their first win on the road in 10 months until the Turkey international’s late intervention.
But the comeback was clouded by a terrible injury to Gomes in the second half which saw Spurs’ Son Heung-min initially yellow-carded before being shown a red by referee Martin Atkinson.
The Portugal international was caught by a late challenge but it was the way he fell awkwardly, as Serge Aurier closed in, which did the damage.
Liverpool had left it late to maintain their six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were facing their first defeat of the season with three minutes remaining as they trailed to Trezeguet’s 12th-minute goal for Aston Villa.
However, Scotland captain Andy Robertson levelled in the 87th minute, with Sadio Mane then capping an impressive comeback with the winning goal four minutes into stoppage time.
Title rivals City were another team who did not have things all their own way in a game they were expected to win, edging Southampton 2-1.
Saints, beaten 9-0 at home by Leicester in their previous Premier League outing, took a shock lead in the 13th minute at the Etihad Stadium with a goal from James Ward-Prowse.
There were only 20 minutes remaining when Sergio Aguero equalised and the comeback was complete four minutes from time when Kyle Walker got the hosts’ winner.
Arsenal, who yesterday denied any meetings with Jose Mourinho, were held to a 1-1 home draw by Wolves.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, captaining the Gunners, netted his first goal in four games in the 21st minute, but Raul Jimenez levelled 14 minutes from time.
A section of supporters have turned on boss Unai Emery following a run of two wins from their last nine league games and speculation linked Mourinho to the post if the Gunners wield the axe.
Manchester United’s mini-revival ended as a superb solo goal from Joshua King earned Bournemouth a 1-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium.
Newcastle improved their survival hopes with a 3-2 victory at out-of-form West Ham while Sheffield United continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-0 defeat of Burnley.
Goals inside the last quarter from Leandro Trossard and Shane Duffy gave Brighton a 2-0 home victory over struggling Norwich.