Everton 2 City 3
Report by Colin Hall
Two penalties by Riyad Mahrez and a strike by Shinji Okazaki gave Leicester City a 3-2 victory over Everton at Goodison Park and maintain their lead in the Premier League until Boxing Day at least.
The result also places City within one win of equalling our points total for the whole of last season with 21 matches still remaining.
Claudio Ranieri, having been deprived of the services of Robert Huth and Danny Drinkwater through suspension and injury respectively, was faced with a dilemma of who to replace them with. In the event, he opted for extra Premier League experience in the form of Marcin Wasiliewski and Andy King.
Ranieri also shuffled the pack up front by recalling Okazaki in place of Leo Ulloa.
The entire game took place, as did the corresponding game last season, in a torrential downpour. But, as then, the conditions had no significant effect on either the state of the pitch or the quality of the match.
Everton started strongly, and Wasilewski had to be alert to clear a dangerous cross by Deulofeu. City responded well, though, and Okazaki fired a snapshot narrowly over after a cross by Marc Albrighton, before Wasilewski headed wide from an Albrighton free-kick.
The exchanges continued, with a Lukaku cross found Barkley clear at the far post, but the England midfielder skied his shot into the crowd when, at the very least, he should have forced Kasper Schmeichel into a save.
This proved to be a costly miss, as the next City attack brought the opening goal. Jamie Vardy, hitherto subdued by recent standards, flicked on a Christian Fuchs throw and Okazaki outwitted Funes Mori to draw a foul from the home defender. Referee Moss had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Mahrez, restored to penalty duties in spite of his miss at Hull, showed greater poise and precision on this occasion to find the net.
However, the lead proved to be short-lived, as another right-wing move from the home side – this time involving ex-City loanee Cleverley – again picked out Barkley. He displayed far more composure than with his previous effort, forcing Schmeichel to block his shot and then seeing the follow-up headed off the line by King. Lukaku, though, was on hand to find the net for his eighth consecutive game and continue his assault on the league record so recently established by Vardy.
At this stage Everton's numerical advantage in central midfield was giving them a slight edge, but the only further threat to Schmeichel's goal before half-time came when Lukaku headed a corner just over.
The City keeper was soon called into action after the break, being forced to tip over a Coleman cross-shot. This prompted a swift response from the Foxes, as Albrighton sent Vardy clear for a right-foot shot which flashed just wide of the far post.
As so often in this wondrous season, a moment of brilliance from Mahrez turned a finely-balanced game. An exquisitely-weighted through ball to Vardy sent the striker clear of the Everton defence and drew a foul on him from Howard. Referee Moss again made an instant judgement and Mahrez duly converted his second penalty, this time sending the ball to the keeper's left side instead of to his right.
While the home side were still reeling from this blow, City moved in for the kill. A Coleman clearance was charged down by Albrighton and Vardy pounced instantly on the loose ball to set up Okazaki for the coolest of finishes to extend the table-toppers' lead.
The goal was no more than the Japanese striker deserved after a bright, tenacious performance – the best of his City career to date. Meanwhile, many home fans began heading for the exits, even with 20 minutes of the game remaining.
The Foxes saw out most of this closing period in relative comfort, with Vardy, Mahrez and Albrighton all being withdrawn with an eye to the demanding forthcoming schedule. However, a lapse in concentration within the defence – which may give Ranieri some cause for concern in future games – allowed Barkley to tee up substitute Mirallas to reduce the arrears with a minute of normal time remaining.
This home revival, though, came far too late. City held on to clinch their 6th away win of the league season – a figure only previously exceeded at top-flight level under Matt Gillies and Martin O'Neill. This result was all the more impressive in that it came against a team only previously defeated during this campaign by sides featuring in the Champions League.
There is every indication that the current incumbent could oversee an era of the club's history that will stand comparison with those of his illustrious predecessors. Even if the current exceptional standards cannot be sustained in the new year, at least the benchmark has been set for future seasons at Premier League level.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines; Barry (c), Cleverley; Deulofeu (Lennon 73), Barkley, Kone (Mirallas 73); Lukaku. Subs not used: Robles, Gibson, Besic, Osman, Galloway.
Goals: Lukaku 32, Mirallas 89
Bookings: Funes Mori, Howard
City (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Fuchs; Mahrez (De Laet 83), Kanté, King, Albrighton (Dyer 71); Okazaki, Vardy (Ulloa 87). Subs not used: Kramarić, Benalouane, Schwarzer, Inler.
Goals: Mahrez pen 27, pen 65, Okazaki 69.
Booking: Wasilewski
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation