Leicester v Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after Vardy secures draw as Bentancur injured
Leicester 1-1 Tottenham: The veteran striker popped up in the second half to secure the hosts a point
Jamie Vardy marked Leicester’s return to the Premier League with a goal as the hosts secured an unlikely point against Tottenham Hotspur.
Captain Vardy had not been expected to feature in the opening fixture of his side’s top-flight comeback having missed most of the preseason due to injury, but was deemed fit enough to start with Steve Cooper lacking in alternative forward options. And it had to be him to produce a magic moment: Spurs had dominated the entirety of the contest unti the veteran striker headed home a second half equaliser totally against the run of play, Vardy directing Abdul Fatawu’s cross into the corner to secure a 1-1 draw.
Tottenham had appeared to have been cruising to an opening weekend win after Pedro Porro capitalised on their sustained pressure with a flicked first-half finish. With James Maddison sparkling on his return to his former club, the floodgates appeared likely to open thereafter, but a series of squandered chances from new recruit Dominic Solanke and the rest of the Spurs’ forward line left Leicester in touch, allowing Vardy to pop up and spark a King Power Stadium party again.
There was a worrying moment late on as Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur appeared to be knocked out in a clash of heads. After several minutes of treatment, the Uruguayan was sitting up and talking in the Tottenham dressing room after being carried off on a stretcher, and will continue to be monitored in line with concussion protocols.
Re-live all the action from the King Power Stadium below:
KICK OFF!
Leicester in blue, Tottenham in white - we are underway at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester vs Tottenham
After that touching tribute, on to the football. One game left in the opening Premier League weekend - Dominic Solanke will take the opening kick off on Tottenham debut.
Leicester vs Tottenham
Long-time friend Nigel Pearson and several members of Craig Shakespeare’s family are in the stands, watching on as the stadium pays tribute to the former Leicester manager with an impeccably observed minute of applause. Wes Morgan, Jamie Vardy and James Maddison all laid flowers ahead of kick off in Shakespeare’s memory.
Leicester vs Tottenham
Out the players come, the King Power Stadium full to the rafters for Leicester’s Premier League return.
Leicester vs Tottenham
Oliver Skipp was not registered in time to be involved tonight, but is on the Leicester bench ahead of kick off, having a natter with new colleague Conor Coady.
Leicester vs Tottenham
Kick off is rapidly approaching at the King Power Stadium. Everything has gone (largely) to form so far on this opening weekend, the presumed favourites getting the job done and a sole draw between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. Can Leicester be the first real disruptors of the campaign?
Leicester vs Tottenham
Leicester will also be paying tribute to the late Craig Shakespeare tonight after his passing at the end of July. The experienced coach was a vital part of the set-up that guided the club to the Premier League title in 2016 before stepping up to the top role a year later - an exceptionally popular figure, he will be much missed.
Leicester vs Tottenham
It’ll be equally intriguing to see how this Leicester back four shapes up. It’s high on pedigree: James Justin won his only England cap so far two years ago, Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard were Euro 2024 starters for Belgium and Denmark, and Viktor Kristiansen was a key cog for Bologna on loan last season as he helped the Italian club into the Champions League for the first time.
Steve Cooper seems likely favour a different approach to the possession-based style that Enzo Maresca utilised in the Championship last season, which will provide alternative challenges for the squad. It’s been a tough preseason for Cooper’s side but you’d expect them to up the intensity tonight.
Leicester vs Tottenham
It felt strange that in a season in which Tottenham perhaps struggled as a collective defensively, many of Spurs’ standout individual performers last year were in their back five. A key for Ange Postecoglou this season will be making sure that this unit of Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie start together as much as possible - they really did look a different side when they had that settled quintet fit and firing.
“Keeping them all fit will help,” Postecoglou tells Sky Sports of how he can make defensive improvements this season. “Our record when they were all playing was really good, but we suffered when we didn’t have them. It’s fair to say that we didn’t have a strong enough squad last season. I know when they are out there playing and fit, those issues won’t be as prevalent for us.”
James Maddison returns to Leicester
James Maddison returns to the King Power Stadium tonight having left Leicester for Tottenham after their relegation to the Championship last summer.
A bright start to life in London gave way to a frustrating end to the season that saw the creative midfielder struggle for fitness and form, and Maddison was eventually left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
The emergence of youngster Lucas Bergvall and presence of Dejan Kulusevski, perhaps a better fit in a central role in Ange Postecoglou’s system, means that the 27-year-old is not necessarily a certain Spurs starter this season.
But Postecoglou has backed Maddison to bounce back: “The good thing is he’s fit and he’s laid himself a good opportunity and foundation to have another strong season.
“The disappointment of say missing the Euros, well that’s just again part of being a footballer. We take all the good stuff, but you have setbacks and it’s how you react to those.
“I’m sure he’ll want to sort of go out there and get himself back into the international frame and get back playing for England.”
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