Leicester City 2-0 Brighton: Shinji Okazaki and Harry Maguire earn Foxes their first Premier League victory of the season

  • Leicester City record their first win of the Premier League season as Brighton are beaten 2-0 
  • Shinji Okazaki reacted quickly to score after just 52 seconds after Riyad Mahrez shot was saved
  • Harry Maguire headed home a second from Mahrez free-kick nine minutes after half-time 
  • Brighton struggled to make an impression at the King Power Stadium in their second Premier League game
  • But there was some late concern for Leicester after their striker Jamie Vardy hobbled off in stoppage time 

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Whether he was playing for his £50million move or for forgiveness from Leicester City's fans, Riyad Mahrez was in the mood here.


Mahrez, who handed in a transfer request in May and released a statement asking to leave Leicester, created the first goal then set up the second to beat Brighton & Hove Albion.

It was his run that led to Shinji Okazaki's opener after only 52 seconds before his corner allowed Harry Maguire to finish off Brighton with a header. All that was missing was one of his own.

Shinji Okazaki spins away in celebration after firing Leicester City in front against Brighton after only 52 seconds 

Shinji Okazaki spins away in celebration after firing Leicester City in front against Brighton after only 52 seconds 

The Japan international reacted quickest to convert from close range after Mathew Ryan couldn't hold a Riyad Mahrez shot

The Japan international reacted quickest to convert from close range after Mathew Ryan couldn't hold a Riyad Mahrez shot

Okazaki celebrates with his Leicester team-mates after giving them the perfect start in their first home match of the season

Okazaki celebrates with his Leicester team-mates after giving them the perfect start in their first home match of the season

Harry Maguire heads home Riyad Mahrez's free-kick to double Leicester's lead after 54 minutes 

Harry Maguire heads home Riyad Mahrez's free-kick to double Leicester's lead after 54 minutes 

The tall defender, signed over the summer from Hull City, soared above the Brighton defence to power home his header

The tall defender, signed over the summer from Hull City, soared above the Brighton defence to power home his header

Maguire runs away in celebration after scoring the first goal of his Leicester City career with a towering header

Maguire runs away in celebration after scoring the first goal of his Leicester City career with a towering header

Maguire is congratulated by team-mates Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki after heading home Leicester's second of the match

Maguire is congratulated by team-mates Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki after heading home Leicester's second of the match

Match facts, ratings and table 

Leicester City (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Simpson 6.5, Morgan 7, Maguire 7.5, Fuchs 6.5; Mahrez 8, James 6.5, Ndidi 6.5, Albrighton 6.5; Okazaki 7.5 (Slimani 76); Vardy 7.5 (Gray 90+3)

Subs not used:Hamer (GK); Chilwell, Amartey, King, Ulloa

Scorers: Okazaki (1), Maguire (54)

Booked: Morgan

Manager: Craig Shakespeare 7

Brighton and Hove Albion (4-4-1-1): Ryan 5; Bruno 6, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Suttner 5; Murphy 6, Stephens 6, Propper 5.5, March 5.5; Gross 5.5 (Knockaert 62, 6); Murray 5.5 (Hemed 66, 6)

Subs not used: Maenpaa (GK); Bong, Huenemeier, Rosenior, Skalak

Manager: Chris Hughton 6

Referee: Lee Probert 6

Attendance: 31,902 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Jamie Vardy's heat map in the attacking third during the match against Brighton. CLICK HERE for more stats in our match zone service

Jamie Vardy's heat map in the attacking third during the match against Brighton. CLICK HERE for more stats in our match zone service

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It comes as other clubs have issues with their wantaways. Chelsea's Diego Costa is AWOL, 5,000 miles from Stamford Bridge in Brazil. Southampton's Virgil van Dijk has not played this season, while Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho is itching to leave for Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Mahrez is on the pitch, pulling the strings for Leicester in their first Premier League win of the season. No tantrums, no inconvenient injuries, none of that.

'He made his statement,' Craig Shakespeare said. 'Everyone knows the speculation in terms of the bid that we had (£32m from Roma) but it wasn't accepted.

'I've spoken to him, 'While you're here, you need to be professional, you need to be respectful of your team-mates and Leicester City Football Club.' Credit to him, he's done that.

'While he remains in that frame of mind, he will always be considered for selection. He wants to play all the time. He's that kid on the playground.'

It wasn't all good news here, however, as Jamie Vardy was taken off in stoppage time for an ankle injury.

With games against Manchester United and Chelsea next, Shakespeare said: 'He's got an ankle heavily strapped with an ice pack on it. But knowing Jamie, he'll be fine. He has them battles.'

This was Brighton's first top-flight away match since May 1983 and a far from ideal start saw Leicester take less than a minute to score.

Mahrez had the ball on the right wing, beat Markus Suttner by cutting inside, before wrong-footing Davy Propper with a step-over and shimmy. His subsequent shot was spilled by Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who gifted the goal to Okazaki on the rebound.  

Glenn Murray scored with this acrobatic effort during the first-half - but it was ruled out for offside

Glenn Murray scored with this acrobatic effort during the first-half - but it was ruled out for offside

Riyad Mahrez takes the ball forward for Leicester surrounded by a number of yellow-shirted Brighton players

Riyad Mahrez takes the ball forward for Leicester surrounded by a number of yellow-shirted Brighton players

Brighton goalkeeper Matthew Ryan dives bravely at the feet of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy during the opening half

Brighton goalkeeper Matthew Ryan dives bravely at the feet of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy during the opening half

Brighton were then fortunate not to be 2-0 down when Suttner shot himself in the foot with a back-pass that came up short, though Vardy couldn't capitalise.

Anthony Knockaert – the former Leicester winger and last season's Championship Player of the Year – spent half-time warming up. How long would Chris Hughton wait to introduce him?

By the time he was brought on, Brighton were trailing 2-0 as an in-swinging corner from Mahrez found £17million summer signing Maguire, who headed home. Take note, Gareth Southgate.

Brighton boss Hughton had a word of warning for his players afterwards: 'I'm disappointed with the performance but this won't be the first time this season. We will have many of these this season.

'It's about staying in there, it's about being 1-0 down, perhaps not playing so well, looking for an opportunity, staying in the game and getting back into it.'

They couldn't here, as Mahrez was a menace to the final whistle. Points on the board for the Premier League's former champions but none yet for the newbies. 

Leicester's delight at their victory was tempered slightly by a late injury suffered by striker Jamie Vardy

Leicester's delight at their victory was tempered slightly by a late injury suffered by striker Jamie Vardy

Leicester's Marc Albrighton is sent tumbling under challenge from Brighton's Dale Stephens at the King Power Stadium

Leicester's Marc Albrighton is sent tumbling under challenge from Brighton's Dale Stephens at the King Power Stadium

Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester stretches his leg to win a challenge in the air with Markus Suttner of Brighton 

Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester stretches his leg to win a challenge in the air with Markus Suttner of Brighton 

Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare (right) issues instructions from the touchline as his Brighton counterpart Chris Hughton watches on with hands in his pockets

Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare (right) issues instructions from the touchline as his Brighton counterpart Chris Hughton watches on with hands in his pockets

Jamie Vardy carries the ball away from Brighton's Davy Propper and his own team-mate Wilfried Ndidi during the game

Jamie Vardy carries the ball away from Brighton's Davy Propper and his own team-mate Wilfried Ndidi during the game

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare looked delighted with the performance of Shinji Okazaki as he is substituted off

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare looked delighted with the performance of Shinji Okazaki as he is substituted off

Flames greeted the two teams at the King Power Stadium ahead of the Premier League game between Leicester and Brighton

Flames greeted the two teams at the King Power Stadium ahead of the Premier League game between Leicester and Brighton

The home supporters created quite the welcome for their team by waving thousands of blue and white flags before kick-off

The home supporters created quite the welcome for their team by waving thousands of blue and white flags before kick-off

A football freestyler shows off his flicks and tricks on the concourse outside the King Power Stadium ahead of kick-off

A football freestyler shows off his flicks and tricks on the concourse outside the King Power Stadium ahead of kick-off