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Leicester logo
Premier League | Gameweek 28
Mar 14, 2021 at 2pm UK
King Power Stadium
Sheffield United logo

Leicester
5 - 0
Sheff Utd

Iheanacho (39', 69', 78'), Perez (64'), Ampadu (80' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Bryan (74'), Lundstram (88')

Brendan Rodgers hails Leicester City forwards

Brendan Rodgers hails Leicester City forwards
© Reuters
Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez were a real handful for the Blades.

Leicester's three-pronged attack of Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez earned the praise of manager Brendan Rodgers after they put sorry Sheffield United to the sword at the King Power Stadium.

Iheanacho scored his first Premier League hat-trick, with two of the goals set up by Vardy, while Perez's strike and an Ethan Ampadu own goal sealed a 5-0 success for the Foxes which saw them return to second place in the table, ahead of Manchester United's game against West Ham later.

It was the first time Iheanacho had scored in three successive Premier League matches and his partnership with Vardy has now yielded an impressive 23 goals in as many games when they have started together in the competition.

Kelechi Iheanacho takes the match ball home
Kelechi Iheanacho took the match ball home (Molly Darlington/PA)

Vardy's two assists saw him become only the sixth player in Premier League history to register 100 goal involvements after the age of 30, following in the footsteps of Teddy Sheringham (127), Frank Lampard (118), Ian Wright (110), Alan Shearer (102) and Gianfranco Zola (101).

"I'm delighted (for Iheanacho)," said Rodgers. "I've said I can see improvement in him and day on day he trains so hard.

"Him up there with Jamie (Vardy) is a really good combination. It was three good finishes, he's clever and drops into space we want him to but overall his contribution tactically and overall game was very good.

"The combination of him, Jamie and Ayo (Ayoze Perez) was outstanding today. Jamie may not have scored but he was influential for us."

Leicester dominated throughout against a team who could only muster one attempt at goal during the entire match.

It was only a single-goal lead at half-time, however, and Rodgers was pleased with the patience his side showed in breaking down the Blades.

"Patience was very important," said the Northern Irishman. "With two teams playing similar systems, you know where the advantage is but it takes a little bit of time to find that.

"They have lost a number of games this season but many of them have been fairly tight so you know you are going to have to work them. We knew they were going to fight and be competitive, after the week they've had, because they are honest, true players.

Jamie Vardy shoots across goal
Jamie Vardy was influential for Leicester (Alex Pantling/PA)

"Some of our football and creativity and the speed of the game was very good. We created many opportunities, when you think of the chances Jamie had. We played the system well and took advantage of the space we wanted to and were very clinical."

Sunday brought the day United fans never wanted to contemplate – the first game after the Chris Wilder era.

After almost five years of success, which saw Wilder lead Sheffield United from the stagnancy of League One to a top-half finish in the Premier League, the 53-year-old left by mutual consent the day before the game at the King Power Stadium, following a difference of opinion with the owner about the future of the club.

Under-23s coach Paul Heckingbottom stepped up to first-team duties and spoke of an "emotional" dressing room following the Blades' uncharacteristic below-par performance.

"It was a difficult one to watch and a difficult one to be involved in. It was an emotional dressing room to be in there at the end, there was some anger and upset. It topped off an emotional week," said Heckingbottom.

"It's a tough time. Chris was the leader on a daily basis and shared a lot of that with many of those players in the dressing room. It was emotional.

"Leicester were ruthless but there were a lot of habits today in the players that they have not built their success on, and I think the week took its toll.

"I'm in charge until the end of the season, or until the powers that be decide otherwise, and I can't let the players get their heads down because the next manager will see that and be watching."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


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