Leicester 5-0 Sheffield United: Player ratings as Kelechi Iheanacho hat-trick sinks dreadful Blades

14 March 2021 07:07

Leicester blew an abject Sheffield United side away at the King Power Stadium as a Kelechi Iheanacho hat-trick inspired a 5-0 victory for the Foxes.

It was clear in the early stages who was the better of the two teams but it took Leicester a while to get their opener. Jamie Vardy and Iheanacho combined to open up the visitors after 39 minutes, by which point Aaron Ramsdale had already produced good saves to deny Vardy and Ayoze Perez.

United were struggling to cope heading into the second half and after Chris Basham cleared a Vardy effort off the line with his face, they put on a masterclass in how not to defend counter-attacks. Perez found himself with the freedom of the Midlands to double the lead from range, before Iheanacho converted another Vardy cross to put the game beyond doubt.

It was Paul Heckingbottom's first game in charge of the Blades and it was one he won't forget any time soon. Because it was a disaster.

Things got even worse when Iheanacho fired a stunner beyond Ramsdale, before Vardy's shot was turned into the net by Ethan Ampadu to finish things off.

This next bit should be fun.as long as you're not a Sheffield United fan. Let's get into some player ratings!

LEICESTER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Fofana was a rock at the back | Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Kasper Schmeichel (GK) - 6/10 - Literally did not have one save to make. Only Billy Sharp had fewer touches.

Wesley Fofana (CB) - 8/10 - An absolute demon at playing the ball out from the back. Pressed aggressively and neither Billy Sharp or Oliver Burke were able to get any change out of him.not that either were up to much.

Jonny Evans (CB) - 7/10 - Regularly stepped out to cut off attacks at source and held things together at the heart of the back three. Didn't grab the headlines, but when does Jonny Evans ever?

Caglar Soyuncu (CB) - 6/10 - Strolled it without ever really catching the eye.

2. Wing-backs & midfielders

Ayoze Perez fired in number two | Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Ricardo Pereira (RWB) - 7/10 - 'Wing-back' is a pretty loose definition of Pereira's role, as he spent most of his time deep inside the Blades' half. Went off at the break with a suspected minor injury.

Wilfred Ndidi (CM) - 6/10 - Took up a deep starting position and swept things up to free up those around him.

Youri Tielemans (CM) - 7/10 - Clinically accurate with his passing and put in the hard yards to help cut United off at the source.

Timothy Castagne (LWB) - 6/10 - Relatively quiet in comparison to Pereira on the right but still caused a problem or two with his whipped crosses from deep.

Ayoze Perez (CAM) - 8/10 - Given license to roam between the lines and asked a few questions with his intelligent passing. Glorious finish to double the lead.

3. Forwards

Iheanattrick, anyone? No? I'll see myself out. | Pool/Getty Images

Jamie Vardy (CF) - 8/10 - Maybe the most efficient player in the Premier League. Had fewer touches than any other Leicester player, but still managed to spurn two good chances and assist Iheanacho twice. All despite visibly limping throughout.

Kelechi Iheanacho (CF) - 9/10 - Took advantage of two gorgeous assists from Vardy and then absolutely thundered one in for his hat-trick. Five goals in three games now for the striker.

4. Substitutes

Marc Albrighton (Pereira, 46) - 6/10

Thakgalo Leshabela (Perez, 81) - N/A

SHEFFIELD UNITED

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) - 5/10 - Had to be on hand early on to stop a Perez header. Ineffectual at stopping almost anything else.

Chris Basham (CB) - 5/10 - Great block on the line with his face to deny Vardy. Old school stuff. His overly ambitious running down the right flank? Less old school.

Ethan Ampadu (CB) - 5/10 - Seemed capable of picking out a pass which is more than can be said of a few of his team-mates. OK performance for an hour but collapsed late on and had his misery compounded by an own goal.

Kean Bryan (CB) - 4/10 - Caught a yard behind Iheanacho for the opener and his naivety was constantly exposed. Glad to see hear final whistle.

6. Wing-backs & midfielders

Pass marks for Norwood if we're being kind | LINDSEY PARNABY/Getty Images

George Baldock (RWB) - 5/10 - Fairly efficient at distributing the ball. Defensively, that's another matter.

John Lundstram (CM) - 4/10 - *The Passenger by Iggy Pop plays faintly in the background*

Oliver Norwood (CM) - 5/10 - Broke up the play fairly well which helped his team keep the score down for an hour or so.

John Fleck (CM) - 5/10 - Showed for the ball and put a shift in but didn't really stand a chance against Tielemans.

Enda Stevens (LWB) - 6/10 - Got himself up the left flank now and again but didn't have much to aim at in his ventures forward.

7. Forwards

Burke went off for Lys Mousset | Pool/Getty Images

Oliver Burke (CF) - 4/10 - *The Passenger by Siouxsie and the Banshees plays faintly in the background*

Billy Sharp (CF) - 5/10 - 12 touches of the ball all game. Yeah, he wasn't getting much service.

8. Substitutes

Lys Mousset (Burke, 63) - 5/10

Iliman Ndiaye (Norwood, 79) - N/A

Source: 90min