Matchday Live Talking Points: Credit To Everton & Moving On
- Leicester City fell to a 2-0 defeat by Everton at King Power Stadium on Wednesday evening
- The Foxes currently remain fourth in the Premier League standings, 13 games into the campaign
- Steve Walsh, Gerry Taggart and Matt Elliott provided their thoughts on City's home loss on LCFC TV's Matchday Live show
Goals in each half from Richarlison and Mason Holgate consigned the Foxes to a first defeat in four games in all competitions, though City remain fourth in the Premier League table.
Reflecting on the action at full-time, as part of LCFC TV's free Matchday Live coverage, Walsh, Taggart and Elliott were on hand post-match to discuss all of the key talking points.
Credit to Everton
Matt Elliott said: "I don't think any team is going to have it all their own way at any stage throughout the season, so take advantage when you can. Overall, Everton will feel that it's a job well done, they took their chances when Leicester were a little bit loose. [Jamie] Vardy and Leicester didn't take their big opportunity and ultimately that was the difference. Everton were able to manage their way through the game, Leicester couldn't come up with the answers. It's fine lines, I didn't think Leicester were that bad but Everton were difficult to play against, but they've got quality in that team as well, they are not just all workmanlike and strong, dogged individuals who work well together, there are sprinklings of quality. You would have to play very well to break them down and beat them and Leicester weren't on song tonight."
One of those games
Gerry Taggart said: "It's obviously a frustrating night at the office for everyone concerned. We said before the game, Everton were one of those teams, under Carlo Ancelotti, capable of coming here and getting a result and that's what we've seen tonight. But looking at the bigger picture, nothing is really lost, Leicester are still in a great position. You've got to give Everton credit, at half-time they've gone in 1-0 up, second half they have weathered the storm. Leicester controlled large parts of that second half without that cutting edge, mainly down to some good defending from [Abdoulaye] Doucouré especially, I thought he was immense for them. It was just one of those nights and sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it doesn't, tonight it was Everton's night."
A lack of fluency
Steve Walsh said: "It wasn't that fluent Leicester that we've seen over the last week or so, we don't do draws - we win or we lose - and we're winning more than anyone else in the league at the minute, so we're still fourth. The frustrating thing for Brendan [Rodgers] is you get on a bit of a high and then you're just knocked down a little bit. Just looking at some of the performances, [James] Maddison and [Jamie] Vardy were below their standards and although they didn't have too much service, Vardy had his one chance which you could say he should have done better, but who is to argue with his goalscoring record? That could be a game changer in certain games like this and it was just a frustrating night in the end."
Fofana's performance
Matt Elliott said: "Particular instances could have been improved upon but in general play, they weren't any shocking performances. For me, the one stand out figure was Wesley Fofana. He's still developing, there's still things for him to improve on a little bit, he's still a bit raw, but that's perfectly understandable and what a talent he is."
An intense schedule
Gerry Taggart said: "We've seen it with other top teams in this league this season. Chelsea have lost their last two and that's the way the season in going to go because of the amount of games certain teams have to play and the European games. Everyone is feeling it and you could see one or two players on the pitch were starting to feeling it a little bit. Some of the players who have come back in recent times, like Ricardo [Pereira], are still not quite fit yet as they aren't involved in the squad and so everyone is having to play their part. Brendan [Rodgers] is trying to rotate the squad a much as he can, but still have that momentum of a winning team. Unfortunately, tonight wasn't the night with the penalty shout and the offside goal - it just didn't happen."
Move on to Spurs
Steve Walsh said: "I had a really good feeling before the game, but it happens in football. Everton have come and frustrated us, ran the clock down to a certain extent, cleverly enough, we would have done the same. The two goals could have been prevented I think, but we've got to accept it. I think this season is going to be a rollercoaster, but Everton did a job on us, they were physically strong, they work a lot harder than I've seen in years and they've got an organisation and they know what they are doing, they are quite well drilled. It was always going to be tough to break them down, we knew that."