Leicester City vs Burnley. Premier League.
The King Power StadiumAttendance31,916.
Monday 19 September 2016 08:50, UK
Islam Slimani made the perfect start to his Premier League career as he scored twice for Leicester in a 3-0 victory over Burnley.
The club's record signing, who joined from Sporting Lisbon for £29m, scored either side of half-time to provide the catalyst for the Premier League champions to stretch their unbeaten home record to 19 games.
Ben Mee scored a comical own goal to rub salt into Burnley's wounds as Sean Dyche's side have lost all of their away games in all competitions this season without scoring.
Along with Slimani, Leicester handed a full debut to goalkeeper to Ron-Robert Zieler, who replaced the injured Kasper Schmeichel, which broke his run of 52 consecutive league starts for the Foxes.
Sean Dyche decided to switch his formation for the visit to the champions with Jeff Hendrick making his full debut in a 4-5-1 formation, which saw Andre Gray play as the lone striker.
The Burnley dangerman was starved of service as Leicester's quality kept the Burnley back four on their toes in the early stages.
Michael Keane - a reported transfer target for Leicester in the summer - was key in keeping the hosts quiet for the first 25 minutes but Riyad Mahrez burst into life to test Tom Heaton with a low drive from a tight angle, which the goalkeeper cleared.
Burnley created little, but should have taken the lead on 37 minutes when Steven Defour headed straight at Zieler from 10 yards after a clever pick out by Scott Arfield.
Leicester immediately broke up the other end and Mahrez headed an ever better chance wide from 12 yards after a delicious delivery from Christian Fuchs.
Burnley looked to holding out until the break - until Slimani, who had looked very lively in tandem with Jamie Vardy, swung the game in Leicester's favour.
Fuchs again was the provider, whipping a pin-point free-kick right into the heart of the Burnley box and Slimani rose above Mee to power home a header from eight yards.
Buoyed by his goal, the Algerian came out after the break hunting another. It took him just three minutes to double his tally.
Dean Marney made the mistake of handing possession to Mahrez about 35 yards out and he drove towards the area. His cross found its way to Slimani at the back post who showed his electric predatory skills to turn the ball home.
With Burnley pressing men forward, the shape of the game suited Leicester. Claudio Ranieri's side counter attacked with the vigour of last season and Mahrez's cross on 78 minutes made it 3-0.
Mee was the unfortunate man to turn the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range. It rather summed up Burnley's day against a Leicester side that have their mojo back.
Player Ratings
Leicester: Zieler (7), Simpson (7), Morgan (7), Huth (7), Fuchs (8), Mahrez (8), Amartey (7), Drinkwater (7), Albrighton (7), Slimani (8), Vardy (7)
Subs used: King (6), Gray (6)
Burnley: Heaton (6), Ward (6), Mee (5), Keane (6), Hendrick (6), Marney (5), Defour (5), Boyd (6), Arfield (6), Gray (6)
Subs used: Vokes (6), Gudmonsson (6)
Man of the match: Islam Slimani
