- Leicester City beaten 3-1 by Chelsea on Saturday afternoon
- Patson Daka scored the Foxes’ goal at King Power Stadium
- Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovačić all scored for the Blues
- Brendan Rodgers gave his verdict on the display to LCFC TV
Patson Daka’s goal levelled matters following Ben Chilwell’s opener, but ultimately the Foxes fell well short, with Kai Havertz ensuring Graham Potter’s side entered the break ahead and Mateo Kovačić’s third goal sealed victory for the Blues.
“I think the performance deserved more,” the Northern Irishman told LCFC TV following full-time at King Power Stadium. “The players gave everything in the game. We obviously responded to going behind. The two goals in the first half were disappointing from our perspective, especially the timing of them.
“The first one was from a corner – we looked surprised that Chilly was going to shoot but we worked ourselves back into the game and once we had got the goal, which was excellent, we looked a good team and moved the ball quickly and looked really dynamic.
“We were good and then, right on half-time, we go behind. We switched off and became a little bit passive. If you give top players that time, they’ll punish you. That was disappointing, but we regrouped at half-time and then the team went out in the second half and gave everything.
“The game was really about a couple of big moments. We had one cleared off the line and Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall’s] chance as well. If we get it back to 2-2, at that time we had really good momentum but obviously they go up the other end and show their quality. That was the difference.”
Dewsbury-Hall had two big chances to score, hitting the crossbar in the first half, before a golden opportunity to level in the second went begging. That was largely the tale of the game for the Foxes, who were then punished by Chelsea’s cutting edge at the other end.
The 50-year-old continued: “When we create those opportunities, we have to take them. Chelsea have been a team that haven’t given away a lot, so for us to get the chances that we did, we just have to be clinical. At that time, that was the one area that we needed to be better in. Apart from that, you can’t be passive.
“It was a great scoop over the backline (from Enzo Fernández) and then from there he finishes really well, Havertz, that was the disappointment. We came out, created opportunities, but couldn’t put them away.
“We could keep the ball, track the runner and he obviously finishes it well, but there’s areas that we could do better.”
Able to welcome back Jonny Evans to the matchday squad following injury, the Northern Irish centre-back was introduced in the final few minutes of the contest and may play a role at Brentford next weekend following Wout Faes’ red card.
“It’s good for Jonny to get on and he’s done really well,” City’s manager explained. “It’s just all about the moment and giving him the chance to get in, so we did that and it’s good to get him back on the field.”