Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho and James Justin were on target for Leicester as they took Brendan Rodgers’ side back to third in the Premier League, leaving Fulham still seven points adrift of safety.
This result will have been as popular in Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle as it was in Leicester, as it left Fulham still without a league victory since they won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the end of November. For Leicester, it was a solid return to form after last weekend’s surprise home defeat by Leeds, in which they proved to themselves that they can win tricky games without injured pair Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi.
With that key duo on the sidelines, the pressure was on Maddison to step up – and he did so with two brilliant assists. He now has six of them, as well as six goals, in his last 12 matches, and the 24-year-old is making himself increasingly difficult for England manager Gareth Southgate to ignore.
Fulham were in desperate need of victories to show for their improved performances and they carved Leicester open in the 12th minute for the first clear chance of the game.
Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa escaped down the left and sent the ball low into the box for Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb held off Caglar Soyuncu – who was replacing the injured Wesley Fofana – and shot, with Justin making a vital block to take the venom from the strike.
Soon afterwards, Leicester were in front. Hamza Choudhury found Maddison to his right and the playmaker delivered the perfect cross for Iheanacho, who sneaked between Joachim Andersen and Ola Aina to head the ball past Alphonse Areola.
It was a messy, prickly contest, with neither side able to find consistent rhythm. Mitrovic was being kept at arm’s length by Soyuncu and Jonny Evans, while in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, Youri Tielemans was tigerish in central midfield.
After a half in which he was barely tested, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept his side in front two minutes from the interval, leaping to push Tosin Adarabioyo’s header over the top following Ademola Lookman’s corner.
The importance of that save became apparent only 60 seconds later. Iheanacho held the ball up on the halfway line before feeding Maddison, who drew two defenders towards him before sliding a glorious pass inside for Justin, powering forward from left-back.
Justin rounded Areola with his first touch and though he took the ball wider than he would have liked, the Foxes defender was still able to squeeze the ball inside the post to double his team’s lead.
Source: dailymail.co.uk