Leicester City were 2-0 winners against managerless Everton in their first match under Claude Puel. Here are five things we learned from the match. Some big name managers are in the running to take over the reins of the club, according to ladbrokes bookies – but it remains to be seen who will end up managing the Merseyside.
Claude Puel appease the judges in his first audition
Many felt that the former Southampton boss was underwhelming choice for the Foxes but he has started as he means to go on. Puel named field an interesting line up for his first match in charge of the club giving two young English players Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell a chance. This meant that Shinji Okazaki and Marc Albrighton dropped to the bench. The changes paid off and the Claude Puel era has started in style.
David Unsworth’s risks don’t pay off
The Everton’s current caretaker manager has made no secret about wanting the managerial job on a full-time basis. However, he made some big decisions against the Foxes and they didn’t have the desired effect. Gylfi Sigurdsson was on the bench and Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas were given their league debuts. This idea did not go to plan as the duo were substituted at half-time for youngster Beni Baningime and Oumar Niasse. Sigurdsson was then brought on in place of Wayne Rooney with 16 minutes remaining. By that time it was too little too late.
Jamie Vardy has a thing with new managers
Leicester City’s first goal under Claude Puel was scored by Jamie Vardy. This is now the third time the England international has scored the first Premier League goal under under a new Leicester City manager. Vardy also found the net first under title winning boss Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare.
Demarai Gray shows why he deserves more starts
From the first whistle it wad clear that Gray had a point to prove. The energetic winger produced brilliant and incisive crosses as he made a huge impact on the game. He ran the length of the pitch before finding Mahrez who passed the ball to Vardy to finish from close range. A classic counter attack from the Foxes was too much for Everton to handle. The Leicester’s second goal seemed to have been sliced into the net by Everton youngster Jonjoe Kenny but was later officially awarded to Gray for his second Premier League goal. Gray made his first home Premier League start since April 4th. If this performance is anything to by, he won’t have to wait that long for his next one.
Everton still have no option in attack
Romelu Lukaku made it clear he wanted to leave the Goodison Park since March when he refused to agree a new contract so they had plenty of time to find a replacement. However, they focused solely on luring Olivier Giroud from the Gunners which didn’t happen. Ronald Koeman claimed that failing to sign the Gunners striker was a factor in his sacking. This season in the Premier League, the Toffees have just two goalscorers, Wayne Rooney and Oumar Niasse. If the players don’t score, the Merseyside don’t score. It is unfair that the goalscoring burden is placed on the young shoulders of Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is still learning the game and needs to improve. Everton will have to hang on until January before they can bring in the necessary reinforcements.