Leicester jeopardizes Champions League hopes with collapse
LONDON » In the top four since September, Leicester’s Champions League hopes are no longer so certain.
A 4-1 capitulation at relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Sunday summed up Leicester’s form since the Premier League returned from its three-month coronavirus-enforced shutdown.
“I would say a big apology to the supporters because that was unacceptable for a Leicester team,” Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said. “You cannot do that and I have never been anywhere near that since I’ve been here, it was a huge disappointment. We lacked the spirit and attitude.”
Leicester has won only once in the six league games since the restart, collecting six points and slipping from third to fourth.
It could be down to fifth on Monday night if Manchester United beats Southampton. Fifth could, however, clinch England’s fourth and final Champions League place if second-place Manchester City’s Champions League ban for next season is confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday.
Wolverhampton is also still in sight of fifth place, moving to three points behind United after beating Everton 3-0 on Sunday.
Arsenal and Tottenham, though, are realistically in a scrap for a Europa League place. Tottenham has the edge after beating Arsenal 2-1 in the north London derby to leapfrog its rival into eighth place. But Sheffield United, in its first season back in the league, is ahead of them in seventh place.
LEICESTER SLUMP
Despite winning the league at 5,000-1 odds in 2016, Leicester is a muchchanged side and overachieving in Rodgers’ first full season in charge. But throwing away the thirdplace cushion would make not qualifying for the Champions League hard to accept.
Jamie Vardy did put Leicester in front in the first half at Bournemouth, which turned the game around during a two-minute spell after the break.
Junior Stanislas equalized from the penalty spot in the 66th minute after Callum Wilson was dragged down by Wilfred Ndidi and Dominic Solanke put the hosts in front quickly after the restart.
Leicester defender Caglar Soyuncu was shown a straight red card in the aftermath for kicking out at Wilson as he attempted to retrieve the ball.
“We gave them a lifeline into the game with the penalty,” Rodgers said, “and then all of a sudden, very quickly you are 2-1 behind, but I was more disappointed with the reaction.”
Bournemouth stretched its lead in the 83rd when Stanislas’ strike across goal took a huge deflection off Jonny Evans to wrong-foot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.