Matchday Live Talking Points: Slick Play, Late Control & Midfield Goals
Marc Albrighton’s superb finish was cancelled out by Nick Powell’s fortunate goal with 20 minutes to play, but Youri Tielemans struck on 84 minutes to win it for the Foxes.
Speaking after LCFC TV’s live broadcast in Staffordshire, the former City defenders provided their views on what proved to be another productive pre-season run-out.
Late control
Matt Elliott said: “Leicester took control in the last 15 or 20 minutes. They seemed to have that extra athleticism about them. Ricardo Pereira was a massive factor, as was James Maddison. He got on the ball quite a lot without producing that killer pass. As is always the case, Youri Tielemans was massively influential as well. Leicester have had more cohesive days, I would say.”
Glimpses of slick play
Gerry Taggart said: “Jack Butland is a big-name ‘keeper and he’s going to be vital for Stoke City this season. We saw on a few occasions that he was vital for Stoke at crucial points in the game. There were glimpses of that slick build-up play, that one-touch football.”
Albrighton’s excellent strike
Matt Elliott said: “The build-up play for Marc Albrighton’s goal was excellent. It was a good team goal, as well as the individual finish from Albrighton. He’ll be delighted with that goal. The touch was just right, he set himself up and just stroked it into the top corner. The link-up with Youri Tielemans and Ricardo Pereira, we’ve seen it numerous times at the back end of last season and already in pre-season.”
More goals from midfield
Gerry Taggart said: “Marc Albrighton is one of those players that Brendan Rodgers is picking out. He wants more goals from his midfielders, whether they’re playing wide or not. It’s a real confidence boost for Albrighton. He’s getting into dangerous areas, more so than he has done previously.”
Numbers in the box
Gerry Taggart said: “I think Ben Chilwell is actually trying to pick Ayoze Pérez out because he’s made that late run into the box for the winning goal. Youri Tielemans was there as backup, which is what Brendan Rodgers will be looking for – to get more men into the box in that scenario.”
City's final pre-season fixture will be broadcast live on LCFC TV from 7pm BST kick-off on Friday, when Atalanta visit King Power Stadium.