Ranieri’s gamble pays off as Foxes ease past Palace
Claudio Ranieri took the biggest gamble of his Leicester City reign and then watched the Premier League champions stylishly spare him a post-match inquest.
There was something of a swagger about Ranieri’s side as they saw off Palace with ease at the King Power Stadium.
And for Ranieri, the decision to omit Jamie Vardy from his starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League was rewarded as the two forwards he recalled, Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki, scored the goals that set up victory.
Christian Fuchs netted a spectacular third for the Foxes before Yohan Cabaye pulled a goal back for a Palace side who made the early running and hit the crossbar through Christian Benteke at 0-0, but who were then overwhelmed by the Premier League champions.
Aside from a two-game suspension last season, Vardy had started every Premier League game since March 2015, a month before Nigel Pearson’s side would light a fire under the ‘great escape’ that began an extraordinary period for the club.
But after the striker picked up a minor groin injury in Wednesday's Champions League win over Copenhagen, Ranieri opted to make a change he knew would lead to a major post mortem in the event of defeat. Instead, Musa repaid the first chunk of his £16m summer transfer fee before Okazaki finished emphatically and Fuchs added a sublime moment by celebrating his new three-year contract with a stunner.
It was a priceless win for Leicester, who hitherto had struggled to combine their fine Champions League form with convincing domestic displays.
Okazaki, who replaced Vardy, missed a glorious chance to make his mark inside two minutes. He was gifted possession by a dreadful clearance from Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda but misjudged
his chip with the goal gaping and shot wide.
However, it was an uncertain start from the champions, who were troubled by the pace and power of Christian Benteke.
The striker turned superbly away from Wes Morgan and released Wilfried Zaha, whose shot from just inside the area was blocked by a sprawling Morgan.
And Benteke then leapt higher than Robert Huth to meet a Zaha cross and send a glancing header against the crossbar.
But a series of half-chances and some magical footwork from Riyad Mahrez sparked the hosts into life and they began to dominate.
Mahrez was denied nine minutes before half-time when he collected a smart pass by Danny Drinkwater and moved towards goal, only for his curling, left-footed shot to strike team-mate Okazaki and loop for a goal-kick. But Ranieri’s men went ahead three minutes before half-time as Musa opened his account.
A combination of fortunate ricochets and some strong hold-up play by Slimani gave Musa possession on the edge of the area and he took a touch before rifling a right-footed shot past Mandanda.
Just two and a half minutes into the second half Leicester should have had breathing space but Slimani missed a glorious chance to double their lead.
The Algerian striker arrived unmarked at the near post to meet a cross by Danny Simpson but he sent his header wide, leaving Ranieri with his head in his hands.