Matchday Live Talking Points: Big Leicester Chances, Impressive Ünder & Sheffield United
- Leicester City were narrowly beaten by Zorya Luhansk at Slavutych Arena on Thursday
- Brendan Rodgers' men remain top of Group G in the UEFA Europa League
- Iwan Roberts, Matt Elliott and Gerry Taggart starred on Matchday Live on LCFC Radio
- The three former Foxes were on hand to analyse the clash over four hours of broadcasting
Leicester City suffered their first defeat in the UEFA Europa League, but still remain top of Group G with one game to play, after Allahyar Sayyadmanesh's late winner for Zorya Luhansk at Slavutych Arena.
Matchday Live offers over four hours of coverage of every Foxes fixture this season and Thursday was no different, with Roberts, Elliott and Taggart providing their thoughts at full-time...
Mitigating circumstances for City
Matt Elliott said: “It’s obviously disappointing to not get the win and, even more so, to lose. It was unexpected because I don’t think Leicester City came here and took it easy. There were mitigating circumstances, in terms of the injured players coming back. They were always going to get a limited amount of time. It was still a strong side. All those players have played in the Premier League and there’s room for improvement in the performance.”
Big Leicester chances
Iwan Roberts said: “If I look at the chances Leicester had, there are two in particular. The one for [Cengiz] Ünder in the first half, it was on his weaker foot, but he has to score. I thought he was tremendous tonight, he was a real threat, he was lively, and always positive. There was also a chance from a set piece with Wesley Fofana having a free header. Maybe he was trying to get just a bit too much power in the header.”
Impressive Ünder
Gerry Taggart said: “You’d have to say for the entirety of the game, Ünder was a constant thorn in Zorya Luhansk’s side. He was always busy on the ball, always trying to create. He was having a go, that is for sure. In the recent past, he’s come on as a sub and laid a couple of passes on for Jamie Vardy to get on the end of. Those cameo roles have been vital for Leicester City getting wins and his individual performance was very good.”
Lacking penetration
Matt Elliott said: “There wasn’t enough penetration when it mattered. Cengiz Ünder looked good. He has that ability to get swerve and dip on his efforts, but he was a threat throughout the night. He’ll be rueing that golden opportunity in the first half, but it wasn’t to be for him. Ultimately, Leicester paid the price. Brendan Rodgers will be wanting to get back home now and concentrate on the fixture at the weekend.”
The bigger picture
Iwan Roberts said: “It’s always hard when you go into a game in a group situation where you’re top, as you know whatever happens that you’re qualified for the next stages. It will be great if Leicester can finish top of the group, but first and foremost it’s about finishing in the top two. They needed to up the tempo a little. We saw it in patches, but maybe not enough. There’s a bigger picture, though, with players coming back from injury.”
Looking to Sheffield United
Gerry Taggart said: “[Chris Wilder] won’t be fooled by this result. He’ll know that Leicester City will pick themselves up and some of the senior players who didn’t travel will be back fit and ready to go on Sunday. He’d have been hoping that the likes of Kasper [Schmeichel], Jonny [Evans], Youri [Tielemans] and Jamie [Vardy] would have travelled to Ukraine. The fact they haven’t travelled will be the opposite of music to his ears.”