City's U23s Seize Top Spot With Liverpool Victory
City are now unbeaten across 14 home games in all competitions following a brace from Harvey Barnes and solitary strikes from George Thomas and Sam Hughes in front of a 2,752-strong crowd on Filbert Way.
Leicester’s starting line-up featured just one change from the side who defeated third-place Arsenal 3-1 at Holmes Park a fortnight ago with Fousseni Diabaté replacing Josh Eppiah on the left flank.
With the backing of a lively home following, the Foxes emerged from the tunnel for their third King Power Stadium appearance this term with the post-horn gallop signalling their arrival.
The local support, a regular feature at Development Squad fixtures this term, spurred Leicester towards making a blistering start and, within just two minutes, the hosts had taken the lead.
When Barnes capitalised on a rebound off the post, the consequence of an audacious Josh Gordon effort, he calmly tucked it beyond visiting goalkeeper Kamil Grabara into the bottom corner.
On 20 minutes, Grabara had an anxious wait to discover his punishment after handling outside his 18-yard box, but referee Christopher O’Donnell brandished just a yellow card.
Barnes, eyeing a quick-fire second, stepped forward to take the free-kick, curling it narrowly over Liverpool’s crossbar. The 19-year-old, though, wouldn’t have to wait too long to get another.
Just after the half-hour, Barnes played an integral role in another City success in front of goal. The Countesthorpe-based midfielder spotted Thomas behind the backline, playing a smart pass through.
Thomas, a summer recruit from Coventry City, duly obliged to round the ‘keeper before picking his spot, via a slight deflection off Grabara, into the bottom of the Reds’ net.
City were rampant and they went into the interval frustrated not to have added upon their lead with the impressive Gordon and Hughes also going close before the referee's whistle.
Four minutes into the second period, they got their third when Darnell Johnson, a European champion with England’s Under-19s, drilled it across the goalmouth for Barnes to finish neatly.
Eppiah, a second half replacement for Gordon, injected pace into Leicester’s forward line and, but for a last-ditch save from Grabara from 10 yards out, he could have etched his name onto the scoresheet.
A memorable night got even better for Steve Beaglehole's Under-23s as Hughes, now level with Thomas on eight goals, looped a header over Grabara's grasp with six minutes remaining.
As a result, City sit top of the league with just three fixtures remaining - Swansea City (A), Sunderland (A) and Derby County (H).
Major moment
In a match which carried such significance at the top of Premier League 2, a commanding start was essential, so Steve Beaglehole will have been delighted with what he saw in the early stages.
The Foxes came out of the blocks with intent, taking the lead inside just 120 seconds, and they pressed ahead to secure a massive three points which carries them to the Division 1 summit.
Who impressed?
"I thought every one of them were terrific tonight, it was a very impressive performance." - Steve Beaglehole.
It was one of those days for the Club's Development Squad. Everybody excelled, both the starters and the substitutes, on a night to remember at King Power Stadium.
Special mentions go to Sam Hughes, Harvey Barnes, Josh Gordon and George Thomas, but in truth, Steve Beaglehole is right to point out the collective effort on show on Monday evening.
Where does it leave us?
City sit top of the Premier League 2 Division 1 standings by a margin of three points. However, Liverpool have one game in hand and Arsenal, four points adrift, have two additional matches still to play.
Liverpool and Arsenal still have to play each other, though, and the Gunners must also secure a result against Chelsea to remain in the race at the top of the table.
Coming up…
Leicester travel to south Wales next Monday to face fifth-placed Swansea City at Liberty Stadium (7pm kick-off), before visiting Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in April.
The details…
City: Iversen, Hughes, Johnson (Pascanu 79), Knight, Wood, Diabaté, Choudhury (c), Dewsbury-Hall (Wright 74), Gordon (Eppiah 63), Barnes, Thomas
Subs not used:, Bramley, Martis
Goals: Barnes 2, 48, Thomas 32, Hughes 84
Liverpool: Grabara, Williams, Masterson (c), Gallacher, Dixon-Bonner (Sharif 73), Millar, Bobby (Dhanda 63), Camacho, Christie-Davies, Lewis, Jones
Subs not used: Kelleher, Clayton, Gomes
Referee: Christopher O’Donnell
Attendance: 2,752