Saturday 7 May 2016 21:52, UK
Leicester cruised to a 3-1 win over Everton at a buoyant King Power Stadium on Saturday Night Football. It was the perfect way to celebrate their extraordinary Premier League title triumph, writes Nick Wright…
After Leicester's wild celebrations on Monday night, it was easy to imagine they might take their feet off the gas for the visit of Everton. But on a joyous and historic day in the East Midlands, the newly crowned Premier League champions produced an exhilarating performance to match the carnival atmosphere in the stands.
The party had been in full swing for days as the gravity of Leicester's extraordinary achievement began to sink in around the city, and the streets surrounding the King Power Stadium were a sea of celebration in the build-up to kick-off against Everton.
A rousing performance from opera singer Andrea Bocelli and an emotional speech from manager Claudio Ranieri brought a touch of class to the occasion, and then it was over to Leicester's unlikely band of heroes to continue the party on the pitch.
They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, with Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy at the heart of their thrilling attacking play, just as they have been for so much of this remarkable season. The stadium was a cauldron of noise from kick-off, and there was more reason to celebrate when they broke the deadlock six minutes in.
Mahrez's throw-in found Andy King on Leicester's right-hand side, and the midfielder chipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jamie Vardy. The striker exploited the space between John Stones and Bryan Oviedo, and his first-time finish was typically clinical. After missing the last two games through suspension, the FWA Footballer of the Year was making up for lost time.
Former Leicester striker Alan Smith would later describe it as the "ultimate team performance" in the Sky Sports commentary box, and their second goal came less than 30 minutes after their first. Shinji Okazaki found Mahrez, whose trickery bewitched his markers before Leighton Baines' tackle inadvertently set up King to dispatch the finish.
"It's like watching a team on fast forward," noted Jamie Carragher, and there was much more to come as they continued to pour forward after the break. Vardy got his second when he won and converted a penalty in the 65th minute, and the only minor hiccup came when he missed another chance from the spot to wrap up his hat-trick.
Vardy's double still puts him within one goal of Premier League top scorer Harry Kane on 24, and it was fitting, too, that King played such a pivotal role in the result. The long-serving Welshman is the only surviving member of the side that won promotion from League One in 2008/09, and seven years on from starting in a 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra, he starred as they brought up 80 points in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old is a symbol of Leicester's extraordinary rise, and his goal and assist earned him a well-deserved man-of-the-match award. "Andy King was the most important player in the first half," said Jamie Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio. "He just sums them up."
Leicester's success, though, is a triumph of the team over the individual, and the philosophy was typified by the all-encompassing celebrations that greeted the final whistle. "They have been as one all season," said Redknapp. "From Schmeichel to Vardy, every single player has been immense. It's the stuff of dreams."
In many ways, this was the typical Leicester performance. The Foxes had less possession (41.6 per cent to Everton's 58.4 per cent) and attempted fewer passes (337 to Everton's 499) than their opponent, and yet they dominated the metrics that mattered.
Ranieri's men have ripped up the rule book this season, and against Everton they mustered a season-high 33 shots on goal over the course of the 90 minutes. Roberto Martinez's side were left dazed and confused, and in truth, they were flattered by the 3-1 scoreline.
Carragher described it as "the perfect finale", and it certainly felt like a fitting way to celebrate the greatest day in their 132-year history. "Teams like Leicester are not meant to have these moments," said Carragher. "This is what makes it fantastic. This now gives hope to every player and team out there up and down the league. The impossible is possible."
