Jamie Vardy has last laugh as Spurs contrive to drop points at Leicester

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As he was substituted Jamie Vardy goaded the Tottenham Hotspur fans by making a 1-0 gesture. The score was 1-1 but the Leicester striker was referring to the Premier League title he has. Tottenham, of course, have none – pushing Leicester close in 2015-16 only to finish third.
Vardy again denied them here. There is still that edgy competitiveness and, despite being 38 next January, there is also that predatory instinct in front of goal. Just as it looked like Leicester would be overwhelmed on their return to the top flight, Vardy scored with their first attempt to earn a precious point.
They were transformed after he struck. Their talisman gave them that belief and, remarkably, they could even have gone on to win this. But how Spurs will rue their missed chances – just as they did last season – and that was summed up with just 20 seconds of the nine added minutes to go as substitute Dejan Kulusevski headed wastefully wide from a free-kick.
On the touchline head coach Ange Postecoglou slumped forward, bent double. His body language said it all. And who could blame him?
In effect, this was the tale of two strikers. Dominic Solanke, Spurs’ new £65 million centre-forward, played well but wasted opportunities and that proved to be the difference.
“He’s back in the big time,” Leicester posted on social media after Vardy’s goal and he is undeniably something of a force of nature. A freak – and that is meant as a compliment. Vardy has now scored 103 Premier League goals since turning 30 and he is not going quietly into the night.
Jamie Vardy is well and truly back in the Premier League 😅 pic.twitter.com/UDDHlGd65a
To rub it in, he pointed to the Premier League badge on his sleeve as he walked off to a standing ovation and there were a few choice words for Spurs’ combative centre-half Cristian Romero. To add further salt to Tottenham’s wound, the Argentinian had lost Vardy for the close-range header that cancelled out another header, by Pedro Porro, that had given Spurs the lead.
At half-time Spurs should have been out of sight and the talk would have been of how Leicester could possibly compete in the Premier League with an ageing Vardy leading their attack. That was captured in the first minute when he fleetingly had the chance to run clear from the halfway line but was quickly caught by Porro, 13 years his junior. Not so long ago Vardy would have been away and Leicester would have been a goal up.
So do not write him off. No way. As he returned for the second half there was a swig of Red Bull for Vardy and a bit of a swagger. He was not taking this lying down and he set the tone for Leicester. What a difference a goal makes. After it they were a different beast; before it they looked almost terrified.
Leicester will surely still go into the transfer market – they cannot rely on Vardy, not at his age, despite his defiance. “I was fit as a fiddle until I got to about 65 minutes,” he later said and that is the point. To get the best out of him now, Leicester need back-up or to bring Vardy off the bench.
But his presence, his belief, his belligerence makes a difference. As does his desire to play. Injury has prevented Vardy from having a full pre-season and Leicester manager Steve Cooper revealed that had this fixture been on Saturday, rather than Monday, the striker would not have made it. “He did what he does,” Cooper said.
There is nothing to be afraid of. Nothing to fear. That was Vardy’s message and he has been here before, over-turning expectation and defying the odds. And his age.
Only Teddy Sheringham, at 39 years and 133 days, for West Ham United, has been older than Vardy in scoring in the opening round of games in the Premier League. Only Mohamed Salah – with nine goals – has more than Vardy in the first weekend of the season.
Vardy could have equalled that record. After scoring he was released on the left side of the penalty area, only for Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to repel his shot. The roof would have lifted off the stadium if that had gone in and, even so, an air of trepidation and a little fear was replaced by a sense that Leicester are back where they believe they belong.
The lengthy added time followed a horrible injury suffered by Rodrigo Bentancur with the Spurs midfielder appearing to be left unconscious after a clash of heads at a corner. He was given oxygen and taken off on a stretcher but was responsive and talking in the dressing room afterwards. “But obviously it’s a head injury and I’ll leave it in the hands of the medical team now,” Postecoglou said.
The Australian lamented the “poor decisions” and “lack of composure” shown by his own vaunted front three – Solanke, Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson – and he was right as James Maddison, on his first return to Leicester, ran the first half. “We didn’t get the reward our football deserved,” Postecoglou claimed. That also was true. But only until Vardy scored. After that it was a different game and that is the difference he can – still – make and what he means.
“Jamie Vardy made a memorable exit by taunting Tottenham’s fans as he was substituted at the King Power Stadium.
“Vardy pointed at the Premier League badge on his arm and raised one finger at the visiting supporters before then making a zero sign to compare league title wins between the two clubs.
“Leicester famously lifted the title in the 2015/16 season, securing the league ahead of Tottenham under Claudio Ranieri. Vardy also appeared to confront Tottenham defender Cristian Romero as he left the field.
“The 37 year old forward had produced a trademark goal with a far post header to bring Leicester back into the contest under new head coach Steve Cooper.”
Jamie Vardy reminded Spurs fans that he’s won more Premier League titles than them while being subbed off the pitch 🍿 pic.twitter.com/i0OG9dv8BO
“We had a chat at half time. Tottenham are really good but we gave them too much respect. 
“Started off on the front foot and that changed the momentum. It was very calm. We said don’t concede anymore and you give yourself a god chance. We take the point and move on.
“I was as fit as a fiddle until about 65 minutes If I’m honest, one of the Villarreal players tried putting my right leg into the lake. I waited as long as possible and I managed to get four training sessions in.”
“Disappointing night for us. First-half excellent and controlled the game but wasteful in front of goal. Second half was the same. we started off well and once Leicester scored, the crowd lifted and we lost our composure.
“It was an issue we had last year as well, we need to keep working hard and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. At times we made poor decisions. When we are that dominant we should be out of sight. We play to score goals and we didn’t score. The dominance is great but if you don’t score it is meaningless.
“To be that wasteful tonight is disappointing. We just weren’t clinical. It’s not our football or effort. To get results you need to be a lot more ruthless in the final third. If we don’t we won’t get the rewards our football deserves.”
“Thank god Jamie Vardy went to see Steve Cooper and say he was ready to play. Never change, Jamie Vardy.
“It was chalk and cheese the second half and that’s because there was energy in the stadium and that came from them getting at Tottenham more.”
Jamie Vardy has been directly involved in 12+ goals against two sides in the Premier League:◉ Arsenal (11 goals, 1 assist)◉ Tottenham (9 goals, 3 assists)North London belongs to Vards. 🦊 pic.twitter.com/DS3zXfns1k
There is the final whistle and it ends all square at the King Power Stadium. Ange Postecoglou will be wondering how his side did not win that game after utterly dominating the first half. Leicester mark their return to the Premier League with a point.
We open with a point 🙌Delivered by @BCGameOfficial #LEITOT pic.twitter.com/FtIpQfQaDM
Huge chance for Richarlison. Bergvall sends in a great delivery to the front post but Richarlison gets his header wrong and misses the target. What a chance to win it at the death.
Faes is booked for a foul on Kulusevski down the right-hand touchline and Tottenham will have a late free-kick with under 60 seconds left…
Just two minutes left. Will either side find a late, late winner?
Leicester have been much improved since their equaliser but if Tottenham do not win, they will wonder how on earth they did not pick up all three points. Four added minutes remaining.
Leicester close to taking the lead. Bergvall gifts possession away in his own half and Mavididi finds Ndidi in the centre of the penalty area. Ndidi guides his header towards the far corner and Vicario gets down to his left to make the save and parry it away. Tottenham are making a double change:
OFF Son, Porro
ON Richarlison, Spence
After the lengthy delay, there are nine added minutes.
Porro is really struggling and has been limping around for a while but Tottenham are not going to take him off yet.
McAteer’s first touch is to meet the delivery but his looped header lands on top of the net. Not far off an instant impact from the substitute.
Gray fouls Fatawu on the right-hand side and Leicester have a free-kick in a good position. Just over five minutes remain as Leicester make another change:
OFF DeCordova-Reid
ON McAteer
Leicester are making two changes of their own as goalscorer Vardy, who was having plenty of words with Romero as he went off, is replaced by Mavididi. Soumare has also come on for Buonanotte.
Bentancur is conscious as he is stretchered off. He has on oxygen mask on as the crowd clap him off. Tottenham are going to make a quadruple change:
OFF Bentancur, Sarr, Johnson, Maddison
ON Gray, Werner, Kulusevski, Bergvall
Bentancur, who was about to come off anyway, is now sat up which is a positive sign.
Play has been stopped as the medical staff are called on immediately to assist Bentancur who is down. He picked up a severe knee injury on this ground a couple of seasons ago and there are plenty of concerned faces from both sets of players. A stretcher comes on immediately.
Leicester should be 2-1 up. Buonanotte finds Vardy with a great pass into the penalty area but he hits it straight at Vicario. He should have scored.
Fatawu finds Ndidi in the right-hand channel of the box but his effort hits the side netting. Ange Postecoglou is preparing a raft of changes to try and wrestle back some momentum.
Kristiansen finds Vardy with a brilliant ball into the box but Tottenham manage to just about deal with it. Tottenham look rattled.
Moments later Bentancur goes into the book and the momentum of this match has completely shifted.
This game has flipped on its head now. You would not know from the last few minutes that Tottenham had been in complete control. Fatawu goes down under a challenge from Udogie inside the box but those appeals are waved away.
#LEITOT – 62’VAR checked a potential penalty for a challenge by Udogie on Fatawu. He confirmed the referee’s call of no penalty, deeming any possible contact was outside the penalty area.
Vardy (57’)
Tottenham have been punished for their profligacy. Fatawu dinks a lovely ball from the right to the far post and Vardy, just about onside, nods it into the back of the net. He was happy with that one and Leicester are level despite being clearly dominated in this game.
“A trademark Jamie Vardy goal, and at the end of Leicester’s best moment of the match. We have all learned never to write him off and here was evidence that his advancing years have done nothing to diminish his predatory instincts.
“Leicester are now on the front foot and Ange Postecoglou looks very unimpressed, to say the least.
“The Tottenham manager was seething shortly before the goal when a corner for his team ended with Destiny Udogie playing the ball all the way back to goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Ange-Ball it was not.”
Another chance goes begging for the visitors. Johnson finds Bentancur inside the Leicester box but like Solanke just moments before, he shoots straight at Hermansen. 
Chance for Solanke. Sarr lays it into the path of the debutant, who shoots from just inside the box. He strikes it well but it is straight at Hermansen. Solanke has had a few opportunities tonight but yet to register his first goal for his new club on debut.
Vardy finds DeCordova-Reid inside the box and his shot is blocked by Sarr but the offside flag goes up against DeCordova-Reid.
Tottenham’s corner count is now into double figures. Maddison takes it short to Porro, who sends a threatening ball to the back post but Ndidi is on hand to head away from danger.
“Ange Postecoglou has been backing James Maddison to respond after his European Championships exclusion, and he’s made a huge impact here.
“Maddison has been everywhere for Tottenham against his former club, pulling the strings as a No. 10. He has created the opening goal for Pedro Porro and Leicester’s players just cannot seem to get anywhere near him.”
We are back under way. Will Leicester respond or will Tottenham’s dominance continue?
Tottenham have had 73% possession in that first half, with 10 shots (5 on target). Leicester, who had just one touch in the Tottenham box, have had just one shot in the opening 45 minutes but are just the one goal down at the break.
There is the whistle and Tottenham lead 1-0 at the break, but they probably should be further ahead.
One added minute at the end of this first half.
Tottenham’s corner count is approaching double figures and here is another one as we close in on half-time. Leicester are able to clear their lines and, despite the visitors having had nine corners, they have not taken advantage of any of them.
Five minutes left in this first half and it has been all Tottenham so far. Can the hosts end the first half with any confidence or momentum? Steve Cooper may be slightly relieved his side are not further behind considering how much they have been outplayed.
Leicester play the ball in behind and Vicario is quick off his line to head the ball away from outside his own box. The ball comes to DeCordova-Reid, who urgd to shoot from nearly halfway. He obliges but his effort is way off target. He made the right decision to shoot as Vicario was miles off his line but the execution was terrible.
Ndidi clatters into Maddison and the visitors have a free-kick in a good position, around 25 yards out. The former Leicester man Maddison, who already has an assist will take. He does not shoot but chips it to the far post, where he finds Johnson, who hits it first time and it goes inches wide of the far post. Tottenham very close to doubling their lead.
Porro (29’)
That goal had been coming ever since the start of this match. Maddison sends in a delivery from the left and he finds Porro, who pops up in the centre of the penalty area from his right-back position. He flicks it on with his shoulder and it nestles in the far corner. 1-0 to the visitors and they deservedly take the lead.
“Steve Cooper is targeting more attacking players before the transfer window closes, but it is Leicester’s defenders doing all the work here. Tottenham’s pressure has been rather relentless in the driving rain and Leicester have been clinging on a bit at the back.
“Mads Hermansen was the Championship’s version of Ederson last season but there’s not been any chance to see his laser precision passes yet. Hermansen has just picked the ball out of the net after Pedro Porro gave Tottenham a deserved lead.”
Tottenham have had over 65% possession and seven shots, with four on target compared to Leicester’s zero shots but it remains goalless.
Tottenham want a penalty. Solanke goes down under a challenge from Vestergaard but referee Chris Kavanagh waves it away.
A sixth corner of the night incoming for Tottenham inside the opening 20 minutes. It comes out to Son and the edge of the box and his shot is deflected behind by Buonanotte for another corner, which comes to nothing.
Another headed opportunity for Solanke. Porro sends in a delivery from the right and Solanke beats Faes to it, but it is a fairly simple save for Hermansen. 
The rain is hammering down at the King Power, which will make the surface very slick.
Another opening for Tottenham as they work it down the left. Son plays it to Maddison, who tries to find Solanke in the centre of the box but it goes behind for a goal-kick.
The pressure is building on the hosts here. Maddison finds Son inside the box on the left and his cross is deflected behind for the visitors’ fourth corner of the night. Maddison sends it again and the last touch is off Fatawu and behind for another Tottenham corner on the other side. It is taken short and then sent in. Romero meets it but his header goes just wide. Another chance for the visitors.
“Interesting reception for James Maddison here on his first return to Leicester. As he prepared to take a corner, there was loud booing before breaking out into some applause as Maddison clapped the supporters near the touchline. Pure pantomime, of course, and most players receive similar treatment nowadays when returning to their old clubs.
“The hostility will presumably be based on Maddison being part of the Leicester team that was relegated in 2023 – and for a now infamous tweet when he insisted “everything will be absolutely fine” which seemed to perfectly capture the laidback attitude to the club’s plight at the time.”
Chance for the debutant Solanke. Son finds him at the back post and he is free. He gets his header on target but it is a fairly simple save for Hermansen. Good chance there for Solanke. It would have been a close call though with offside had the ball ended up in the back of the net.
The visitors have another corner from the same side as the last touch comes off Fatawu. Maddison’s corner at the near post is flicked on at the near post by Bentancur but Ndidi pulls off a sensational acrobatic clearance to deny Tottenham. Moments later Johnson has a shot saved well by Hermansen.
Tottenham get the first corner of the night as Son’s cross from the left is deflected behind by Justin. On his first return to the King Power Stadium, Maddison takes it following a mixed reception from the home fans. He sends it in but Ndidi is on hand to head away.
We are under way at the King Power Stadium.
Before the match the King Power Stadium pays tribute to their former manager Craig Shakespeare, who died at the start of the month. There is a minute’s applause in tribute.
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester: Hermansen, Kristiansen, Faes Vestergaard, Justin, Winks, Ndidi; Buonanotte, Decordova-Reid, Fatawu, Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Ricardo, Nelson, Choudhury, Soumare, McAteer, Mavididi, Cannon, Okoli.
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Maddison, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Substitutes: Dragusin; Richarlison, Gray, Bergvall, Werner, Spence, Kulusevski, Davies, Austin.
“There will be a lot of focus tonight on Dominic Solanke, who completed that £65m move from Bournemouth to Tottenham last week.
“Solanke was indispensable for Bournemouth last season and this move to Tottenham should provide Ange Postecoglou with the forward focal point the club has been seeking since the exit of Harry Kane.
“With the England squad to be named later this month by interim manager Lee Carsley, Solanke has a huge chance to elevate himself into the senior set-up on a regular basis.”
“Jamie Vardy will be 38 in January but he remains the Leicester City talisman and he’s back tonight.
“Vardy has missed much of the pre-season programme after sustaining an injury against Villarreal yet he starts here against Tottenham, and as captain.
“There’s also a return to the King Power for Tottenham’s James Maddison, who left last summer for a fee of £40m.
“Brennan Johnson is also a familiar face for Steve Cooper after working with him at Nottingham Forest.
“The atmosphere is rather subdued at the moment, and it will be emotional before kick-off when the ground pays tribute to the late, and much loved, Craig Shakespeare.”
Familiar surroundings for @Madders10 pic.twitter.com/1dhLDvP5WG
Debut 🔜 pic.twitter.com/WfbeftJPuD
“Really happy to get him in. Last season we had issues at both ends of the park but I always felt at that end, we were always a little short. 
“Getting in a striker, for the way we play will make an enormous difference. Dom [Solanke] is a perfect fit. Pleased to get him in.”
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
Newcastle 1-0 Southampton
Everton 0-3 Brighton
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa
Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-2 Manchester City
Jamie Vardy was not expected to be involved for Leicester tonight due to an injury but he starts for Steve Cooper’s side tonight. Bobby Decordova-Reid makes his debut after signing on a free transfer from Fulham along with Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte. Oliver Skipp, who has signed from Tottenham today, is not involved as he was not registered in time.
Leicester: Hermansen, Kristiansen, Faes Vestergaard, Justin, Winks, Ndidi; Buonanotte, Decordova-Reid, Fatawu, Vardy.
Substitutes: Ward, Ricardo, Nelson, Choudhury, Soumare, McAteer, Mavididi, Cannon, Okoli.
Dominic Solanke makes his Tottenham debut after his £65m move from Bournemouth. James Maddison returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time since leaving Leicester for Tottenham last summer. Archie Gray is on the bench after signing from Leeds this summer.
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Maddison, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Substitutes: Dragusin; Richarlison, Gray, Bergvall, Werner, Spence, Kulusevski, Davies, Austin.
“Straight forward in the end, it’s well documented that Jamie [Vardy] has been injured and so has Patson [Daka].
“We did not have a striker. He said he feels good, he was a little bit uncomfortable that we didn’t have a fit striker and he made himself available. You have to trust his judgement.
“The outside noise becomes a greater opportunity for us to do well. One thing we can do for ourselves tonight is to give everything, play well, show the supporters an identity they can associate with that will keep the good feeling going.”
The beginning of a new era 👊#LEITOT pic.twitter.com/oxwZPoRcNV
Leicester’s selected transfer activity
IN: Facundo Buonanotte (Loan, Brighton), Bobby DeCordova-Reid (Free, Fulham), Oliver Skipp (£25 million, Tottenham)
OUT: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£30 million, Leicester), Kelechi Iheanacho (Free, Sevilla)
Tottenham’s selected transfer activity
IN: Dominic Solanke (£65 million, Bournemouth), Archie Gray (£30 million, Leeds), Wilson Odobert (£30 million, Burnley), Lucas Bergvall (£8 million, Djurgarden)
OUT: Emerson Royal (£12 million, AC Milan), Joe Rodon (£10 million, Leeds), Ryan Sessegnon (Free, Fulham), Ivan Perisic (Free, Hajduk Split), Tanguy Ndombele (Free, Nice)
Our XI to start our @premierleague season 📝#LEITOT pic.twitter.com/KE9ZhGxzfD
Your first Spurs team of 2024/25! 🤍 🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/NwgfiWmLFW
Oliver Skipp is City 👊 pic.twitter.com/ijgGH0lpXQ
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The opening weekend of the new Premier League season comes to a close tonight at the King Power Stadium as newly promoted Leicester host Tottenham. Leicester topped the Championship table last season to bounce straight back into the top flight but it has been a summer of change at the club as the man who led them back to the Premier League, Enzo Maresca, has jumped ship to Chelsea, with former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper replacing Maresca. 
The two sides are coming up against each other tonight, but that has not stopped them from negotiating off the pitch. Leicester have today announced the signing of Oliver Skipp from Tottenham, but he will not be involved tonight as players have to be registered before 12pm on the Friday before the weekend’s fixtures. In addition to Skipp, they have also signed Bobby DeCordova-Reid on a free transfer after he left Fulham and Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton.
Cooper will not be able to call on the services of striker Patson Daka, who has been ruled out for a few months with an ankle injury. Conor Coady is also set to miss tonight’s game.
Tottenham are set to hand a debut tonight to striker Dominic Solanke, who they signed from Bournemouth for £65 million last week. Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Solanke is settling in well in north London.
“Thankfully, it’s what we expected. He’s a top pro and a good guy – he’s settled into the dressing room really well. Football-wise you can see he has all the attributes we need. We’ve still got a couple of training sessions to go but he’s doing well.”
Archie Gray could also make his Tottenham debut tonight, after arriving from Leeds this summer. Ange Postecoglou’s side have also added Wilson Odobert, who arrived from Burnley just a few days ago. One man who will not be involved for Tottenham tonight is Yves Bissouma, who has been suspended by Tottenham for tonight’s match after a video emerged of him inhaling laughing gas.
Back in the 2022-23 season, both fixtures between these two sides ended in emphatic victories; Tottenham won 6-2 in their home fixture before Leicester got their revenge by winning 4-1. Leicester, who are unbeaten in their past five opening day fixtures, have 13 wins against Tottenham, their joint-most Premier League victories over one team.
Team news to follow shortly.