Leicester City extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine games after a 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night. The Foxes’ goals came from Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison, as they continued their impressive form under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.
The match was watched by former Leicester City striker and current Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who had plenty to say about the performance of his beloved team.
The game kicked off with Chelsea having plenty of possession, but failing to create any clear-cut opportunities. The home side looked more dangerous, with Jamie Vardy and Maddison combining well in attack.
It was Ndidi who opened the scoring for the Foxes on 6 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box after a corner kick. The Nigerian midfielder slotted the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, giving Leicester the lead.
Chelsea tried to respond quickly, with Tammy Abraham going close to scoring just a minute later. However, his shot went wide of the post.
The Blues continued to push forward, but couldn’t find a way through the Leicester defence. As the first half drew to a close, the Foxes started to take control of the game and began to create more chances.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, with Chelsea having the majority of possession, but failing to create any clear opportunities. Leicester looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Vardy causing problems for the Chelsea defence.
It was Maddison who doubled Leicester’s lead on 41 minutes, scoring a wonderful free-kick from just outside the box. The midfielder’s shot sailed over the Chelsea wall and into the top corner of the net, leaving Kepa with no chance.
Chelsea tried to respond again, with Abraham and Mason Mount going close to scoring. However, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made several important saves to keep the clean sheet intact.
The home side continued to create chances as the game drew to a close, with Vardy almost scoring a third goal for Leicester. However, his shot went wide of the post.
Speaking after the game, Lineker praised the performance of his former team. “Leicester were fantastic tonight,” he said. “They defended well and took their chances when they came. They deserved the victory.”
The win sees Leicester move up to second place in the Premier League, just one point behind leaders Liverpool. It also extends their unbeaten run to nine games, with Rodgers’ side looking like genuine contenders for a top-four finish this season.
For Chelsea, the defeat is a setback in their bid to secure Champions League qualification. Frank Lampard’s side remain in fourth place, but are now just five points ahead of Tottenham and Manchester United, who both have a game in hand.
Overall, it was a deserved victory for Leicester, who were excellent throughout the game. The Foxes will now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Manchester City, as they look to continue their fine form and stay in the hunt for the Premier League title.
As for Chelsea, the defeat will be a disappointment, but Lampard will be pleased with the way his side played for large parts of the game. The Blues will now focus on their upcoming fixtures against Burnley and Arsenal, as they look to maintain their position in the top four.