Leicester City took the Premier League by storm in 2015 by taking the most unlikely title in the history of the EPL. There’s no doubt the stars were aligned exactly the right way for them to be able to win it all that season, but nevertheless they did do an excellent job on their own accord. While the repetition has been unlikely, Leicester has built on that success with patience and are being rewarded right now. After beating Southampton in an absolute lopsided thrashing on Friday evening, the Foxes leapfrogged Manchester City and took the second spot in the Premier League.
City does have a game in hand and they’re one point behind, but nevertheless Leicester’s start to the season has been nothing but excellent. They’ve only lost twice so far, against Liverpool and Manchester United on the road and at home they’ve only dropped points in the season opener against Wolverhampton. After banging in nine goals in Southampton on Friday, their goal total of 25 rose above Liverpool’s and second to only City’s 29.
The Friday’s fixture had a nightmare start for the hosting Southampton. Leicester’s left-back Ben Chilwell followed through on a rebound and took the visitors ahead after only 10 minutes. Some confusion was caused by the referee checking VAR after the goal, but there was a clear reason: during the build-up for the goal Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand made an absolute horror tackle on Ayoze Perez and was sent-off. That was only the beginning of Leicester’s fireworks display.
On the 17th minute Yuri Tielemans slotted the ball unopposed past Soton’s keeper Angus Gunn from the middle of the box and only two minutes later Ayoze Perez received a perfect one-two-pass from Tielemans and blasted the ball into the net. Perez then added another from a brilliant cross by Ben Chillwell from the edge of the area to the back post. Southampton’s defense was in shambles and Jamie Vardy was the next Leicester player to take advantage. Vardy skillfully collected the ball from the air, nutmegged Maya Yoshida and coolly put the ball past the keeper just as the first half concluded.
The battery continued in the second half as Leicester showed no mercy. Perez completed his hat-trick on the 57th minute after Harrison Barnes lobbed the ball past Soton defenders, and unmarked Jamie Vardy headed his second of the night from another Ben Chilwell cross only a minute later. James Maddison added 8th from a free-kick on 85th minute and Vardy then put the cherry on top by completing his hat-trick from a penalty at the closing whistle on 94th minute.
Foxes 0-9 victory equals a 24-year old record of the biggest ever win and broke the record of biggest ever victory on the road. Perez and Vardy are only the second duo in the history of EPL to complete a hat-trick in the same game.
To win Premier League – Leicester: 71.00
To be relegated – Southampton: 2.70
