Leicester City returned to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, facing Aston Villa in a match that underscored the challenges ahead for the Foxes this season.
Following a morale-boosting 4-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup last Tuesday, Leicester entered the weekend with renewed confidence.
Steve Cooper, who took charge of the club over the summer, is tasked with the daunting job of keeping Leicester in the Premier League—a challenge that already appears steep.
Cooper’s tenure began on a positive note with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game of the 2024/25 season. However, the optimism quickly faded after a defeat to Fulham and a disappointing performance against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Leicester found themselves 2-0 down after 63 minutes, with goals from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran leaving the Foxes with a mountain to climb. Although Facundo Buonanotte managed to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute, it proved to be too little, too late.
A contentious moment in the match involved Jamie Vardy, whose goal was disallowed after the ball struck referee David Coote during the build-up. The decision left Leicester fans frustrated, but former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports, supported the call.
Gallagher explained: “He’s getting battered for something that’s not his fault. The law says if you play the ball from player to player, you play on.
“If it goes to an opposition player, you pull up. But it also says you can’t be instrumental in an attacking move.
“It deflects off the referee and sets a Leicester player up. He whistles early, the whistle is long gone [when the goal is scored].”
While the disallowed goal was a sore point for Leicester, Steve Cooper cannot afford to rely on such decisions, or on VAR, to rescue his side this season. Even if Vardy’s goal had stood, it’s difficult to see how the Foxes could have taken anything from a game in which they were largely outplayed by Villa.
Leicester’s performance raised significant concerns, particularly with Wilfred Ndidi struggling against Aston Villa. As the international break looms, Cooper is left with a fresh set of problems to address.
It’s still early in the campaign, and some of the club’s new signings may improve as they settle into life at the King Power Stadium.
However, the signs are worrying, and Cooper has a considerable amount of work ahead if he is to steer Leicester away from the relegation zone and ensure their Premier League survival.