Leicester City's Season Review: January

An encouraging December, which included securing top spot in Group G of the UEFA Europa League and Premier League successes over the likes of Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur, was followed by the Foxes contesting another seven fixtures in January.

The year began as the last had - with an away trip to St. James' Park to tackle Newcastle United. Although the scoreline was tighter than 12 months previously, the result was the same, as Brendan Rodgers' men left the North East with three top-flight points. 

A first-time hit from James Maddison put City on track before an equally impressive curler from Youri Tielemans wrapped up the victory, despite a late volley from Andy Carroll narrowing the arrears. The New Year had begun in positive fashion for Leicester.

Next up was the first act in what would be a triumphant Emirates FA Cup run. Rodgers had made no secret about his desire to excel in cup competitions and a third round test at Stoke City was up first for the Foxes on Saturday 9 January. The starting XI in Staffordshire was notably strong.

It may have taken 34 minutes for City's quality to shine through at bet365 Stadium, but the visitors' opener was a stark reminder of Leicester's Premier League quality. The ball came to James Justin on the flank and the England youth international carried it before launching it into Josef Bursik's top corner.

A superb pass from Tielemans then threaded the ball through to Marc Albrighton, who struck a composed left-footed finish to make it 2-0 early in the second period. Ayoze Pérez's calm finish made it three before Harvey Barnes wrapped things up late on. A 4-0 victory and safe passage for the Foxes.

Two wins on the spin became three a week later as Maddison and Barnes found the net again in a comfortable two-goal success over Southampton at King Power Stadium in the Premier League. 2021 was treating the Foxes well so far.

City's first home league win over the Saints since April 2016 propelled Rodgers' men up to second, just a solitary point behind leaders Manchester United, who had played a game less. Next up, though, was another stern test of their credentials as Chelsea visited the East Midlands on Tuesday 19 January.

The Blues had endured a tough winter and slipped down the top flight standings, but the west London side had been significantly strengthened over the previous summer. Leicester, though, were in a ruthless mood against Frank Lampard's outfit, taking the lead inside just four minutes.

A rare effort from Wilfred Ndidi, whose hit from the edge of the area glanced the post, put the Foxes on track before Albrighton's cross came to Maddison in the area to sweep home City's second ahead of the interval. At full-time, Leicester were top of the pile in the Premier League.

It got better, too, as a fifth win in a row was secured at Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup the following Saturday. It wasn't plain sailing, though, as Mads Bech Sørensen bundled Thomas Frank's Bees into an early lead at the capital club's stunning new Brentford Community Stadium home.

Leicester were still behind at the start of the second half, but within a matter of seconds, they were back on level terms as Maddison wriggled into the area and offloaded the ball across for Cengiz Ünder to convert into the bottom corner.

Moments later, after Tariqe Fosu tripped Tielemans in the area, the Foxes were ahead as their No.8 stepped up to beat Luke Daniels from the penalty spot. With 19 minutes to play, the tie was settled by Maddison's tidy finish. The FA Cup dream was still very much alive.

A 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park was a slight disappointment for the Foxes, with Tielemans levelling James Rodríguez's opener on Wednesday 27 January, but the month would end with City's first defeat in over a month as Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United left King Power Stadium with all three points.

A packed January had come to a close with 10 points added to the board in the Premier League and two rounds navigated in the FA Cup. An eight-game month in February, though, would be even busier as the Foxes' European campaign resumed. Injuries would play a key role too.