Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City suffered a disheartening 4-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Saturday, laying bare the Foxes’ glaring weaknesses in the process. The loss was Van Nistelrooy’s first as Leicester City boss, and it’s clear that the Dutchman has a formidable task ahead of him in rectifying the team’s fortunes.
Player Ratings: A Mixed Bag for Leicester City
Mads Hermansen – 6
The Leicester City goalkeeper produced some noteworthy saves in the first half, but was ultimately unable to prevent Jacob Murphy’s opener. Hermansen’s injury-enforced withdrawal at half-time was a further blow to the Foxes.
James Justin – 5
The right-back’s lack of adventurous spirit down the flank was a concern, and he struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of Newcastle’s attackers.
Conor Coady – 5
The centre-back’s error-prone display will have done little to allay the concerns of Leicester City fans. Coady’s lack of composure on the ball was a particular worry.
Jannik Vestergaard – 6
The Danish defender battled tenaciously in the first half, but ultimately lost his way as the game wore on. Vestergaard’s physical presence was a plus, but his limited mobility was exposed by Newcastle’s quick attackers.
Victor Kristiansen – 4
The left-back’s torrid afternoon was one to forget. Kristiansen was caught out of position on numerous occasions and struggled to cope with the pace of Newcastle’s attackers.
Hamza Choudhury – 4
The midfielder’s nervous display was a concern, and his lack of vision on the ball was evident. Choudhury’s early booking restricted his ability to influence the game.
Oliver Skipp – 5
The midfielder’s cautious display was understandable given his early booking, but he failed to make a meaningful impact on the game.
Kasey McAteer – 6
The winger’s fleet-footed display was a plus, but he failed to deliver a telling blow in the final third.
Bilal El Khannouss – 7
The young Moroccan’s excellent vision and forward-thinking approach were a rare bright spark in an otherwise dismal display from Leicester City.
Stephy Mavididi – 5
The striker’s lack of impact was a concern, and he failed to take his chance in the starting lineup.
Jamie Vardy – 5
The veteran striker’s lack of service was a factor, but he failed to make an impact on the game even when he did receive the ball.
Substitutes Fail to Make an Impact
Danny Ward – 3
The goalkeeper’s error-prone display was a concern, and he failed to inspire confidence in the Leicester City defence.
Facundo Buonanotte – 5
The midfielder’s lack of impact was a concern, and he failed to make a meaningful contribution in the final third.
Patson Daka – 5
The striker’s lack of impact was a concern, and he failed to take his chance in the starting lineup.
Caleb Okoli – 5
The defender’s lack of impact was a concern, and he failed to make a meaningful contribution in the final third.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid – N/A
The midfielder failed to make an impact in his brief cameo off the bench.
What’s Next for Leicester City?
Leicester City’s tough run of fixtures continues with games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, and Liverpool on the horizon. The Foxes will need to bounce back quickly from this defeat if they want to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
Van Nistelrooy’s Verdict
“We conceded some sloppy goals and we didn’t create enough chances,” Van Nistelrooy said. “We need to work on our defending and we need to create more opportunities in the final third. We’ll take it one game at a time and we’ll see where it takes us.”
The Road to Recovery: Can Leicester City Turn Their Season Around?
Leicester City’s defeat at Newcastle United was a harsh reality check for the team, but it also presented an opportunity for them to learn and grow. With a __tough run of fixtures