Aston Villa win again as Steven Gerrard gets better of Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers
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Updated 06/12/2021 at 00:20 GMT
Villa Park, Premier League - Aston Villa 2 (Konsa 17, 54) v Leicester City (Barnes 14) LIVE
Rodgers laments Leicester's set-piece weakness after Villa loss
Leicester City’s Premier League woes continued as the Foxes suffered their sixth defeat of the season, going down 2-1 to Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa, in a game that saw the hosts also have a goal disallowed by VAR.
The Foxes took the lead in the 13th minute courtesy of a brilliant finessed strike into the far corner from Harvey Barnes.
Leicester found themselves 3 v 2 against Villa on the break, with Barnes, James Maddison and Patson Daka all involved. Daka almost played himself into trouble on the turn, before recovering and putting it into the path of Barnes on his left, before the attacker placed it beyond Emi Martinez.
Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers, his side were not ahead for long as Villa hit back from a set-piece just three minutes later.
Douglas Luiz whipped in a ball into the box, and on the third contact, Emi Buendia nodded it into the far corner beyond Kasper Schmeichel, with Konsa getting the final touch.
Just before half-time, the hosts thought they had taken the lead but Jacob Ramsey’s goal was ruled out after a VAR check by Michael Oliver, after the referee adjudged the goalkeeper to already have his hand on the ball and it was chalked off.
Villa grabbed the winner in the 54th minute from yet another set-piece, as Konsa got his second of the game after seeing his back-post header beat Kasper Schmeichel to give Gerrard his third win in four games.
TALKING POINT - Brendan Rodgers is living dangerously
Leiecster’s problems under Brendan Rodgers continue as the Foxes have now won just one league game since October 30. His side have a mountain to climb if they want to put themselves back in contention for a European place come the end of the season.
Rodgers' side now occupy 11th place in the Premier League table and are eight points off West Ham United, who sit in the last Champions League spot. That is a sizeable gap for last season's FA Cup winners to claw back, and the Leicester hierarchy may be evaluating their options with regards to a change of management if these poor results continue. The Foxes have a crucial Europa League clash against Napoli next week that the manager may have had one eye on today, but regardless, Leicester's fortunes needs to change, especially defensively.
The Foxes have now shipped two or more goals in nine of their last eleven league games, and with two more set-piece goals conceded again this afternoon, it now has to be a serious concern. The absence of Wesley Fofana may be being felt.
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Leicester City's English midfielder Harvey Barnes (C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 5, 2021
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Ezri Konsa
The 24-year-old central defender will be very proud of his performance, as he was solid defensively, but, more importantly, scored twice to continue Aston Villa’s resurgence under Gerrard.
He proved to be a real thorn in Leicester’s side at set-pieces. This was demonstrated with his second goal as he out-jumped Caglar Soyuncu convincingly and nodded past Schmeichel at the Dane’s near post.
In addition to his effectiveness at attacking dead-ball situations, Konsa completed 84% of his passes, and won two aerial duels during the course of the 90 minutes. A colossal performance.
PLAYER RATINGS
Villa - Martinez 7, Young 6, Mings 6, Konsa 8, Cash 8, Luiz 6, Nakamba 7, McGinn 7, Buendia 7, Watkins 6, Ramsey 6. Subs: Tuanzebe 6, Chukwuemeka 6, Sanson 6.
Leicester - Schmeichel 6, Castagne 6, Evans 6, Soyuncu , Thomas 7, Dewsbury Hall 5, Ndidi 6, Barnes 8, Maddison 6, Lookman 5, Daka 7. Subs: Vardy 6, Iheanacho 6, Perez 6.
KEY MOMENTS
13’ - GOAL! - Leicester take the lead! A turnover in the centre of the pitch sees the Foxes 3 v 2 against Villa on the break, with Barnes, Maddison and Daka all running forwards. The Zambian receives the ball but almost plays himself into trouble on the turn, before recovering and putting it into the path of Barnes on his left. He then slots it calmly into the far corner to give his side the lead. Good goal!
16’ - GOAL! - Luiz puts one into the box, and on the third ball, Buendia gets hold of one from Konsa's flick on and nods it into the far corner beyond Schmeichel! Konsa nicks the final touch!
After a stoppage to check VAR for a potential offside in the buildup, it is given! Daka is adjudged to be the last man and Konsa is onside.
45+1’ - GOAL DISALLOWED! - Villa think they take the lead but VAR rules it out! Luiz whips one into the box, and Cash gets his head on it to guide it into the centre from the far post. Schmeichel gets his glove on it but Jacob Ramsey nicks the ball off him and puts it in! VAR tells Michael Oliver to go to the monitor to check and he disallows the goal after it is ruled that the Leicester stopper already had control of the ball with his outstretched hand when Ramsey turned it in.
73’ - WHAT A SAVE! Martinez with a world-class stop to deny Harvey Barnes from a looping header into the top left corner! Castagne arrows in a low cross, which is flicked on into the air by Daka, and Barnes goes so close with the resulting leap but what a stop by Martinez. Top class.
Leicester City's English midfielder Harvey Barnes (C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on December 5, 2021
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Having won only three of their first 11 Premier League games of the season under Dean Smith, Aston Villa have since won three of their first four under Steven Gerrard.
- Ezri Konsa is the first defender to score a brace for Aston Villa in a Premier League game since Ciaran Clark against Arsenal in Novemer 2010.
- Leicester City have conceded 10 Premier League goals from set-pieces this season.
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