Leicester earned a vital 2-1 win against Everton at the King Power in dramatic fashion. Richarlison had given the away side the lead but it was cancelled out by who else but Jamie Vardy. Then, in added time, Kelechi Iheanacho popped up with a late winner to give the Foxes three points.
Much had been made of Marco Silva's position ahead of kick off but Everton played like a side with no fear. Djibril Sidibe and Ayoze Perez traded efforts early on but it would be Everton who'd take the initiative. Sidibe found some space on the wing and his cross was headed in by Richarlison. This was not going according to the script.
Silva deployed a 5-4-1 to prevent Leicester from operating in the spaces they like to, and it worked well. Maddison and Tielemans failed to have an impact on the match as Everton's organised defence stood strong.
Leicester struggled to create opportunities from open play and it looked like they had found a way back into the game when Chilwell appeared to be tripped by Holgate. VAR then intervened and from one angle it did seem like a trip but from others it was not the same story. No penalty for Leicester.
With Manchester City and Chelsea dropping points, Leicester played the first half like a team that couldn't cope with the added pressure. An improvement was expected in the second half but it was more of the same.
Sidibe offered a consistent threat down the right, putting in cross after cross as Everton denied Leicester any chances. Richarlison and Keane tested Schmeichel from corners and Everton seemed likely to add to their advantage. The game, though, would switch on a substitution.
Brendan Rodgers brought on Kelechi Iheanacho and switched formation to 3-5-2. Iheanacho paired with Vardy up top and suddenly Leicester were finding space that previously wasn't there. Maddison and Vardy threatened as Leicester piled on the pressure.
It would be Vardy to score the equaliser. Iheanacho had been brilliant since his introduction, linking play effectively. Leicester managed to break Everton's defence down and Iheanacho rolled the ball to the back post where Vardy was waiting and he tapped the ball in. Credit to Rodgers for his inspired substitution and to Iheanacho for his performance.
Even though a draw would take Leicester to 2nd, they continued to push for another goal. They were all over Everton now and Tielemans was beginning to influence the game, and he messed up a great chance when he tried to pass when better placed to shoot. Moise Kean almost took Schmeichel by surprise with a clever effort and as the game entered injury time, we seemed to be heading for a draw.
Iheanacho had other ideas. In the 94th minutes, the Nigerian, who was man of the match, created some space in the penalty area and his shot went passed Pickford and into the bottom corner. It was nothing short of what he and Leicester deserved. They held on and condemned Marco Silva to another defeat.
It was a great match to watch and just another reason to sing the praises of Leicester again. They are now 2nd but for Everton, they stay one place above the drop zone and the time keeps ticking for when Silva is finally given the boot. It wasn't a bad performance by Everton but the manner of the defeat will be of great concern to the hierarchy.
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