- Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City had their moments in the game after suffering a 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Saturday
- Rodgers discussed Jamie Vardy’s early goalscoring opportunity and the reason behind substituting Kelechi Iheanacho
- The Foxes remain third in the Premier League standings after 27 matches played
A 1-0 loss at King Power Stadium to Pep Guardiola’s men saw the visitors extend their advantage over third position – where Leicester remain – to seven points.
Only a solitary effort from Gabriel Jesus separated the two sides on Saturday evening, and that gave Rodgers reason to be positive following a confident display against the back-to-back Premier League champions.
Rodgers told the media after the game: “It was second vs. third and I thought it looked like that level of game. They’re obviously a fantastic team, but I thought we did everything that we wanted to do in the game in terms of being aggressive in the right moments.
“Then, we had our own moments in the game. We looked a real threat on the counter-attack and we had other good moments where we played around their box. Clearly, we had a penalty that we should have had, it’s absolutely clear.
“I thought that their penalty was a penalty because Dennis Praet’s arm is up, but it’s a great save from Kasper [Schmeichel]. Overall, we leave the game having given so much to it.”
The game may have unfolded in a different manner had Jamie Vardy’s strike found the back of the net instead of the base of Ederson’s post with just eight minutes on the clock.
“It was a great pass, a great run and a great move,” Rodgers said of the early chance. “It was classic Jamie, and he’s done everything right.
“He’s gone across the ‘keeper and I think if he has that little bit of luck on his side, it probably hits the post and goes in, and then it’s a great start for us, but I thought he was threatening all night.
“Him and Kelechi [Iheanacho] upfront, and then when Harvey [Barnes] came in, they’re a constant menace, threatening in behind.
“The Man City defenders knew they could never rest. I thought his running was great and his hold-up play was good. I just thought he was unfortunate in the end.”
Vardy’s first-half strike partner, Iheanacho, came off at the break following an aerial collision with Ederson, and Rodgers provided some clarity about his decision to replace him with Harvey Barnes after the interval.
“It was the reason he had to come off,” said Rodgers immediately after the match. “I haven’t seen it again, I haven’t seen a replay of it. The guys are telling me he got caught on the throat.
“He’s made a great run, it was a lovely ball by James [Maddison] and he’s just getting there. I suppose, for a ‘keeper, he’s come to punch the ball and tried to take the man at the same time. That’s what they do.
“He felt a bit groggy at half-time and I always listen to the medical staff on that. They felt that it would be hard for him to continue at that level, so Harvey came on and gave us that penetration.”