Norwich 1-2 Leicester: Player ratings as Foxes return to winning ways
Leicester City returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, condemning Norwich City to their third defeat in three games with a 2-1 win at Carrow Road.
The Foxes broke the deadlock on eight minutes, when Brandon Williams was caught napping in possession, and Ricardo Pereira picked out Jamie Vardy in the penalty area, who made no mistake curling a strike into the far corner.
Vintage.#NorLei pic.twitter.com/HMw5ExzcEa
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 28, 2021
Norwich didn’t allow this setback to affect them, and went in search of an equaliser. Kasper Schmeichel made a couple of good saves, but he could do nothing to stop Teemu Pukki levelling the scores from the spot on the stroke of half-time, after Caglar Soyuncu brought down Pierre Lees-Melou in the box.
Leicester looked to reinstate their advantage in the second half, and Youri Tielemans came close, but his effort flew over the bar. The Canaries had chances too, but Schmeichel stood firm. And the Foxes struck with 15 minutes to play, after Vardy’s pass found Marc Albrighton, and the winger’s deflected strike fizzed past Tim Krul.
Norwich thought they’d equalised immediately after, when Kenny McLean headed home from a corner, but Todd Cantwell was adjudged to have been offside while standing directly in front of Schmeichel, meaning the goal was disallowed.
Brendan Rodgers‘ men held on to claim a vital victory, sinking Norwich to the worst possible start to life back in the top flight.
Let’s have a look at the player ratings.
Tim Krul (GK) – 6/10 – No chance of stopping Vardy’s pinpoint finish. Heart in mouth when he dropped a cross, but the Canaries survived. Couldn’t get near Albrighton’s effort.
Max Aarons (RB) – 7/10 – Lightning quick to match the speed of Barnes, and used his pace to overlap down the right flank and double up on Leicester’s full-back.
Grant Hanley (CB) – 6/10 – A bit shaky at times, but understandable given the calibre of players charging at him. Still getting up to speed with the Premier League.
Ben Gibson (CB) – 6/10 – Allowed Vardy to drift into space and was nowhere near picking him up for the goal. Can’t give a man like him so much time to pick his spot.
Brandon Williams (LB) – 5/10 – Caught sleeping on the ball near his own penalty area and the Foxes pounced. A lack of game time may have contributed. Not close enough to stopping Albrighton from scoring.
Pierre Lees-Melou (CM) – 6/10 – Picked up an early yellow card which put him on edge for the remainder of the game. Brilliant driving run into the box to earn the penalty. Curled a good chance over the bar.
Billy Gilmour (CM) – 6/10 – Perhaps should have been a bit more alert to the danger of Vardy for the opener, as a holding midfielder. Tidy on the ball, bringing a great calm and Premier League quality to the Norwich midfield.
Kenny McLean (CM) – 7/10 – Excellent engine in the middle of the pitch, and worked hard to close down the creative Maddison and Tielemans. Headed home superbly, but his equaliser was ruled out for an offside flag.
BACK IN IT!
? #NORLEI ? 1-1 (44) pic.twitter.com/kpavVO8N8o
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) August 28, 2021
Todd Cantwell (RW) – 7/10 – Such a great work ethic to match his talent on the ball. Bags of talent and a creative spark.
Teemu Pukki (ST) – 7/10 – Won plenty of flick-ons to try and release his teammates, causing problems for the Leicester backline. Scored Norwich’s first goal of the season with a cool spot-kick.
Milot Rashica (LW) – 6/10 – Tried an outside-of-the-boot curler into the box but accidentally smashed the ball into row Z. Got a laugh from those who saw the funny side. A live wire, although final ball was lacking.
Our first changes of the afternoon are made!
? #NORLEI ? 1-1 (74) pic.twitter.com/iuNlMi5UIs
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) August 28, 2021
Lukas Rupp (CM) – 6/10
Joshua Sargent (ST) – 6/10
Adam Idah (CM) – 6/10
Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – 7/10 – Forced into action on a number of occasions in the first half, but did well to parry and turn the ball away from danger. Sent the wrong way by Pukki’s penalty.
Ricardo Pereira (RB) – 7/10 – Put in the work to rob Williams of possession and supply the perfect cross for Vardy to open the scoring. Worryingly had to be subbed immediately after with a knee injury. Fingers crossed it’s not long-term again.
Daniel Amartey (CB) – 6/10 – Better than his partner, but still not the convincing, commanding defender that is lacking from the backline.
Caglar Soyuncu (CB) – 5/10 – A silly challenge to make in the box, with the forward so far from goal. Not quite hitting the heights expected after his start to life in England.
Luke Thomas (LB) – 7/10 – Some nervous moments in possession, but recovered to keep the ball and get Leicester moving up the left flank. A real talent.
Youri Tielemans (CM) – 7/10 – Some lovely passes in the first half, and was rarely fazed. Had a pop at goal which flew over. A talent that can’t be wasted in this midfield.
Wilfred Ndidi (CM) – 7/10 – So good at reading the game and nipping in to intercept or break up play. Lost a bit of control as the match progressed.
James Maddison (CM) – 7/10 – Always looking up and forward in possession, and not afraid to take risks to try Vardy and the wingers. Crucial in the buildup to the winner.
Marc Albrighton (RW) – 8/10 – Such an intelligent player. Knows his limits and plays to his maximum. Cracked home the winner with a deflected strike from inside the box.
Jamie Vardy (ST) – 8/10 – Who else? You just knew he was going to get in on the act, and it took him less than 10 minutes to do so. Smart finish from a perfect delivery. Got the assist for Albrighton’s goal.
Harvey Barnes (LW) – 6/10 – Wasted a great chance when curling towards the far corner. Nowhere near. Not at his best and was subbed in the second half.
Timothy Castagne (RB) – 7/10
Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) – 7/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CM) – N/A