Premier League Player Ratings: Leicester City 1-2 Sunderland

Why do we do this to ourselves? I get one Saturday a week and I waste it on this lot and for what? When will there ever be a payoff?

Ok, yeah, except for that one in May, that was pretty good. And I’m enjoying every Champions League match, obviously. But this is pretty tortuous right now. Struggling away at Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea was understandable. We took 1 point from West Brom, Watford, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Ron-Robert Zieler - 6

I feel like I say this every week, but he didn’t do anything much wrong to concede the goals he did. He doesn’t seem to have the spectacular save in him that Kasper does though.

Danny Simpson - 4

I’ve been a big Simpson defender here before but he was bad. In the first 15 minutes, Sunderland ran all over us down Simpson’s side and, while the rest of the team did settle into a better rhythm after, they continued to attack strongly down their left.

Wes Morgan - 6

Wes completed 47% of his passes. He might have done a slightly better job with his eyes closed. That said, without his uncanny ability for blocks, we could have been 3-0 down within 12 minutes.

Robert Huth - 5

Leicester City’s last clean sheet in the league was at the start of October. The CBs are struggling as a pair, but only one of them scored an own goal. Lack of recruitment here is really starting to show because we need a change, but to who?

Christian Fuchs - 5

Not the worst performance defensively, but nothing great either and his man did score the second goal. Had 27 more touches than the nearest Leicester player (more on that later) and did ok with it, but failed to create anything.

I believe that we have a lot of quality in our squad. With a couple of wins and points we will find our way back up the table - Don’t worry, everyone, Christian Fuchs says not to

Riyad Mahrez - 5

He’s clearly still got some ability, but it’s really not showing through right now. At some point you need to start judging players on results and say that, penalties aside, what does he bring to the team right now that Demarai Gray or Ahmed Musa wouldn't?

Daniel Amartey - 3

Unsurprising fact: Danny Drinkwater has lead the team in touches in every full match he’s played. In his absence last week, Daniel Amartey took over that role, which is very much not his strength. This week, he was 5th, with less touches than any other midfielder. He didn’t really win the ball, he didn't really get on the ball, and he didn't really do anything when he had it.

He’s only 21. Don't give up. But also, please replace him for now.

Andy King - 4

Oof. Positives first: no one made more tackles. Negatives: Mahrez made just as many tackles, everything else was also bad. We need Mendy fit and Drinky back. And maybe another midfielder.

"Probably the biggest factor that has changed for opposition teams against Leicester this season has been in the middle of the park. You can get through their midfield and get at their back four a little bit easier now - Watford captain Troy Deeney on the troubles at Leicester

Marc Albrighton - 7

Albrighton was top in combined tackles and interceptions for the game, put in the most crosses (hardly a surprise) and was the only Leicester player I enjoyed seeing on the ball.

Islam Slimani - 4

The big man’s touch was awful. It’s all well having a big strong target man, but if the ball just bounces straight off him to the opposition it doesn't help much. Hopefully just a bit rusty, but he’s not meant for a secondary striker role.

Jamie Vardy - 5

His tenacity was still there and Sunderland had to worry about his pace, as ever. The problem is that they don’t have to worry that much because he’s avoiding the opposition penalty area.

Shinji Okazaki - 6

He scored.

Demarai Gray - 6

Beat his man and put it into a dangerous area for an assist.

Ahmed Musa - 5

Had similarly little involvement as the other two subs, but didn’t actually impact the game as they did.

Mandy could be back soon. Drinky will be back soon. Until then, Man of the Match is me, for not only watching the whole game but then intentionally thinking about it later on so I could write this.