<
>

Islam Slimani, Christian Fuchs on song for Leicester City in Burnley win

Leicester City turned in a dominant and flawless performance to make it two wins and six goals in just four days with Saturday's 3-0 win over Burnley.

The Foxes totally outclassed Sean Dyche's side, with record signing Islam Slimani showcasing his aerial prowess in his Premier League debut.

Positives

Leicester responded superbly after shipping four at Liverpool last weekend with back-to-back clean sheets. The comfortable win over a relegation-threatened side illustrates just how far City have come in the past 12 months. Slimani showed flashes of class and power in the 3-0 Champions League victory at Brugge, but against the Clarets, he underlined why he arrived with such a hefty price tag.

The Algerian is a goal-scoring target man and perfectly suited to complement Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. In addition, his arrival has helped Christian Fuchs and Marc Albrighton, who seem to relish the prospect of serving him from out wide.

Negatives

Kasper Schmeichel missed the game after sustaining a concussion in training. Ron-Robert Zieler was ably deputised, but Schmeichel isn't someone City want out for long. He has had an unfortunate start to the season, having also been forced off with a ruptured hernia in the 2-1 home win over Swansea. There's no need to rush the Dane back for the midweek EFL Cup tie with Chelsea, though, as that was always a game Zieler was likely to start.

Manager rating

9 out of 10 -- Claudio Ranieri got his tactics spot-on. With Schmeichel and Nampalys Mendy injured, he picked the best starting XI at his disposal. Even though Luis Hernandez impressed against Brugge, right-back Danny Simpson was rightly restored to the lineup after he recovered from a hamstring strain. Daniel Amartey also kept his place in midfield ahead of Andy King and is starting to forge a useful partnership with Danny Drinkwater. That might mean the more consistent (and far more hyped) Mendy isn't guaranteed to walk into the side upon his return from injury.

Player ratings (1-10, with 10 the best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Ron-Robert Zieler, 7 -- This wasn't his busiest afternoon, but he saved well late on from Berg Gudmundsson to ensure his first Foxes clean sheet.

DF Danny Simpson, 7 -- This was a typically steely and unflustered stint. Burnley's five-man midfield left Andre Gray isolated and gave him little to panic about.

DF Wes Morgan, 7 -- Morgan was a virtual spectator. City's seven corners at least gave him a chance to get forward and thus numb the boredom at the back.

DF Robert Huth, 7 -- This was a similar story to Morgan's. Expect Huth to be tested more in City's next Premier League game, an away trip to Manchester United.

DF Christian Fuchs, 9 -- This was one of Fuchs' best performances for the club. He looked assured at the back and provided the assist from a free kick for Slimani's opener.

MF Riyad Mahrez, 8 -- Mahrez was outstanding again. He did everything but get on the score sheet, but he finished the game with two assists. The first was a low, fizzing cross that led to Slimani's second goal, while another wicked delivery forced Ben Mee to put through his own net.

MF Daniel Amartey, 8 -- Burnley's packed midfield was a good test of his composure and match fitness, and the Ghana international passed with flying colours.

MF Marc Albrighton, 8 -- His Champions League goal at Brugge has potentially sparked new life into the Englishman. He unleashed a tempting, deep delivery that Slimani should have buried and then won the free kick that led to the Algerian's opener.

FW Jamie Vardy, 8 -- He has already forged an excellent understanding with Slimani. The pair complement each other well.

FW Islam Slimani, 9 -- His was a near-perfect Premier League debut that lacked only a hat trick goal. Slimani has scored 22 in his past 23 league appearances.

Substitutes

MF Andy King, NR -- King will be disappointed to have been kept out of the side by Amartey, but he never lets his head drop. He showed excellent work rate, even though the game was won by the time he entered the field.

MF Demarai Gray, NR -- He needs more time to make a real impact. A start against Chelsea in the EFL Cup could do his form and confidence a world of good.