This Week In History: Stunning Anfield & Vardy's Maiden Goal

Heritage
16 Aug 2020
3 Minutes
Memorable early-season victories and landmark goals feature over the seven days between 10-16 August in Leicester City's recent history.

On 13 August, 1997, Martin O'Neill's Foxes travelled to Anfield for the first away fixture of their second consecutive campaign in the Premier League after a ninth-placed finish a year earlier. 

The new season began with a 1-0 triumph over Midlands rivals Aston Villa, courtesy of an Ian Marshall effort at Filbert Street, but their second outing was a daunting trip to Liverpool.

Despite the scale of the task, the Foxes were, incredibly, in front inside just 60 seconds as Matt Elliott applied a finish to Emile Heskey's searching cross from the left wing.

The Reds pushed for a leveller but, as time went on, City posed more of a threat on the counter, and it was 2-0 to the visitors with seven minutes to go through Graham Fenton.

While Paul Ince did get a goal back for the Reds, it wasn't enough, as O'Neill continued to establish Leicester as a Premier League force, ending the 1997/98 campaign in 10th place.

Seven years later, meanwhile, the Foxes were back in the second tier, renamed the Championship, as Micky Adams' men launched a bid for a second promotion in three years.

Strengthened by the likes of Martin Keown, David Connolly and Joey Guðjónsson, but weakened by the loss of Muzzy Izzet, Leicester headed to Derby County on 11 August, 2004.

Lilian Nalis and Trevor Benjamin got the goals to make Marcus Tudgay's effort a mere consolation in an impressive 2-1 victory, but the 2004/05 season would turn out to be a frustrating one.

On 10 August, 2010, on the other hand, City were adapting to life under the management of Paulo Sousa after the former Portugal midfielder replaced Nigel Pearson.

Three days after a disappointing opening-day Championship loss at Crystal Palace, the Foxes welcomed Macclesfield Town to Filbert Way in the first round of the League Cup.

Despite enduring a few scares along the way, a double from Matty Fryatt, and efforts from Robbie Neilson and Richie Wellens, were enough to secure a slender 4-3 win.

Another two years later, Pearson was back for a second spell in charge and was building a squad worthy of King Power's ambitions for the Football Club.

New signing Jamie Vardy, procured from Fleetwood Town, got off the mark for the Foxes in a routine 4-0 League Cup win at Torquay United on 14 August, 2012.

Vardy got onto the end of Ben Marshall's inventive forward ball for Leicester, while Lloyd Dyer, Marshall himself and Matty James also netted for City at Plainmoor.

Pearson did guide Leicester back to the Premier League, but it was Claudio Ranieri who was in charge at the start of the 2015/16 season - the best-ever campaign in the Club's history.

Following a 4-2 win over Sunderland at King Power Stadium on the opening day, City travelled to West Ham United, who'd just won at Arsenal, and booked a 2-1 success on 15 August, 2015.

A dramatic encounter at the Boleyn Ground saw Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez score before Dimitri Payet's fine effort from distance and Hammers goalkeeper Adrián's red card.