Categories: Sports

Vardy Penalty Sends Leicester Top of Premier League

Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers says the admiration he has for his Leicester players “grows by the day” after they saw off Wolves to go into the international break top of the Premier League table.

Jamie Vardy’s highly contentious penalty – awarded after Dennis Praet’s cross struck Max Kilman on the hand – made it six straight domestic and European wins for the Foxes.

Despite injuries to midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, defenders Daniel Amartey and Ricardo Pereira, new £25m signing Timothy Castagne and Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester have bettered the start they made in 2015-16, when they won the title.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Rodgers, after a ninth win in 12 matches in all competitions this season.

“It’s going to be tough to sustain that with the injuries. With the injuries we’ve got, my admiration for the players grows by the day.”

Vardy took his tally for the season to nine goals after sending Rui Patricio the wrong way from the penalty spot, with Wolves’ players incensed it was given.

Wolves claimed Kilman had no time to move his hand out of the way of Praet’s cross but referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Portugal keeper Patricio saved a second Vardy penalty with his leg before half-time – Leicester’s eighth Premier League spot-kick of the season – after Rayan Ait-Nouri brought down James Justin.

Wolves threatened an equaliser after half-time, 19-year-old Wesley Fofana producing an excellent challenge to deny Pedro Neto a certain goal, Kilman fired over from close range, while Kasper Schmeichel made an outstanding flying save to keep out Ruben Neves.

Leicester are one point clear of Tottenham, who beat West Brom earlier in the day to temporarily go top, and Liverpool, who they face at Anfield in their first game back after the international break on 21 November.