Leicester Edged By Brighton On The South Coast
Boubakary Soumaré was handed his maiden Premier League start for the Foxes while there were returns to the XI for Ricardo Pereira, Çağlar Söyüncü, Youri Tielemans, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy, who was making his 250th appearance for the Club in the top flight.
Following a minute's applause in honour of former Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United great Jimmy Greaves, who passed away on Sunday morning, the action got underway in Falmer. Both sides were also adorning black armbands in tribute to England's fourth highest goalscorer.
The Foxes dominated much of the possession for the early stages and their first real opening arrived on eight minutes as Ricardo slipped an inventive through-ball into the path of Harvey Barnes, rushing into the area. City's No.7 tried to drag it back into the six-yard box, but Robert Sánchez got a hand on it.
Tielemans then saw a long-range drive fizz past the post, before Maddison's effort was also blocked by Lewis Dunk. At the other end, the ball came to Neal Maupay in the 18-yard box and his strike was a dangerous one. Jannik Vestergaard, however, was able to throw his giant frame in front of it.
Kasper Schmeichel had to be alert moments later as Brighton reworked an opportunity, following Vestergaard's challenge on Maupay, with Solly March arrowing a low drive straight at Leicester's Danish shot-stopper. The Foxes No.1 was able to save it, with his feet, and the visitors could clear the danger.
The Brighton pressure continued. Maupay's cross was taken away from Danny Welbeck by Vestergaard, before Adam Lallana cut inside and blazed over from around 16 yards out. Söyüncü was on hand to dispossess Welbeck too, before Leandro Trossard hit a powerful shot straight at Schmeichel.
Just after the half-hour mark, an intervention by VAR led to the Seagulls winning a spot-kick. After Trossard's corner was headed at goal by Shane Duffy, it hit the arm of Vestergaard, who was jostling with Maupay. Referee Stuart Attwell initially awarded a corner. VAR gave a penalty and up stepped Maupay to convert.
There were moments of opportunity for Graham Potter's men before the break as Trossard's cross missed Welbeck, while Wilfred Ndidi earned a booking for clipping the latter's ankle, but much of the discussion at the break concerned the penalty call.
Ahead of the second period, on-loan winger Ademola Lookman replaced Maddison for the Foxes, who appeared to shape up in a 4-5-1 formation. Vardy went close for Leicester early on, after nice play from Barnes and Lookman, dragging wide of the far post from inside the area.
But it was 2-0 to the Seagulls on 49 minutes as Welbeck glanced Trossard's free-kick into the bottom corner. Tielemans twice unleashed long-range drives shortly afterwards, with the first hitting Dunk, while the second bobbled wide. Lallana then headed March's free-kick wide of City's far post.
Soumaré, on the other hand, also had a powerful shot stopped by Sánchez. City eventually broke through on 61 minutes with Lookman and Ricardo linking up on the right, before Tielemans crossed for Vardy to complete a free-flowing, one-touch passage of play with a confident finish from close-range. It proved to be the striker's 150th goal for the Club in all competitions.
The visiting Blue Army thought they had an equaliser to celebrate five minutes later when Ryan Bertrand's corner was finished by Lookman. VAR, however, stepped in again to rule that Barnes was in an offside position and was interfering with play. Timothy Castagne was then introduced, replacing Bertrand.
It wasn't long before Kelechi Iheanacho joined the action to provide another attacking option too. Leicester were trying to force the Seagulls back into their own half and they were enjoying some success, with deliveries from Tielemans causing concern for the home side.
It was the Belgian's corner which so nearly produced an equaliser, too, as Söyüncü nodded over the bar from the edge of the six-yard area. Barnes was then unlucky with a curler on the edge of the box as his deflected, curled strike grazed the top of Brighton's crossbar. More VAR drama was to come.
Another superb corner from Tielemans was headed into the net by Ndidi, sparking brief celebrations in the away end, as VAR stepped in again to confirm a call made by the linesman, who flagged to indicate that Barnes was in an offside position and was interfering with play.
Later, Barnes' cross was palmed away by Sánchez in added time, while a Tielemans drive whistled wide, but Brighton were able to hold out for three points.
Major moment
Brighton were on top midway through the first half, but their endeavours were helped considerably by a decision to award them a penalty for handball against Jannik Vestergaard. Replays show the Dane was duelling with Neal Maupay, altering his balance, but the intervention of VAR led to a spot-kick.
Maupay duly stepped up to dispatch from 12 yards as the Frenchman put the Seagulls on course for three points. Danny Welbeck's second, meanwhile, added a cushion for Graham Potter's home side. Jamie Vardy was able to get one back for the battling Foxes, but two more VAR calls denied them a point.
Who impressed?
Former Brighton and City midfielder Dean Hammond told LCFC Radio's Matchday Live show: "There were many good performers in the second half, but one player who made a real impact for Leicester was Ademola Lookman. He changed the game really. Leicester deserved something out of the game."
Where do we stand?
The Foxes sit 12th in the Premier League with six points from five games. Liverpool lead the way on 13 points.
Coming up...
The Foxes are on the road again on Wednesday as their Carabao Cup campaign begins at the third round stage against Millwall at The Den (7:45pm kick-off). Burnley are then the visitors to King Power Stadium in the Premier League the following Saturday (3pm kick-off).
All times BST.