Brendan Rodgers warns of lingering Leicester problem but diverts pressure talk after heavy defeat

Brendan Rodgers is ignoring outside noise after another defeat for Leicester City, who he believes must get better conserving possession.

It was a day to forget for Rodgers and Leicester as they lost 5-2 to Brighton away from home. Surprisingly, though, the Foxes got off to a great start.

Youri Tielemans won the ball in midfield and sent Patson Daka off down the left wing. His cross found Kelechi Iheanacho, who finished on his left foot.

However, Leicester’s lack of confidence was on show when Brighton equalised just nine minutes later. A Leandro Trossard cross caused them problems and Solly March’s header went in off Luke Thomas.

James Maddison lost the ball soon afterwards, allowing Brighton to counter and then Moises Caicedo to finish.

Daka dragged Leicester level in the 33rd minute after being found by a long Tielemans pass. The striker got the better of Lewis Dunk before finishing into the bottom corner.

In the second half, Alexis Mac Allister had a goal ruled out for Brighton due to a marginal offside in the build up.

Trossard restored Brighton’s lead with 64 minutes gone when finishing past Danny Ward with a composed finish. He then won a penalty for the Seagulls by getting to the ball just before Wilfred Ndidi.

Mac Allister stepped up to make it 4-2 by going down the middle, as Ward dived to his right. And Mac Allister then scored a brilliant free-kick in stoppage time to round off a great afternoon for Brighton, and a dreadful one for Leicester.

Leicester have now lost all of their last league fixtures and are at the bottom of the table. Brendan Rodgers is under intense pressure to start picking up some wins.

During a post-match interview with Match of the Day, Rodgers said: “We have to be honest that the best team won.

“We started well and had good energy in the game but as it has been for us, we made too many mistakes with and without the ball. Against a good team like Brighton, who collectively play well, you are going to suffer.

“It has been a problem for a while [giving the ball away cheaply]. The simplicity goes out of your game if you lack confidence and you stay on the ball longer than you should. At the moment it is not quite happening for us.

“In spells we look dangerous, but we don’t conserve the ball long enough to sustain any period of the game. Two very good goals, well worked, so that got us into the game. But you have to have the ball for longer periods to make more and we didn’t do that.

Brendan Rodgers ready to lift players for ‘big opportunity’

“You can only work hard. We will go away and analyse the game. We need to pick the players up for another home game next week, which will be a big opportunity for us.

“If we can sustain the game for longer and not make mistakes we can build towards getting a result.

“I don’t listen to it [outside noise]. My focus is on the football and trying to give the players the confidence and structure to our game to get back to winning. We will arrive with a new energy, focus and hopefully confidence in to the game next week.

“You put the hard yards in now and work, not shirk responsibility. The results are down to me, I am the manager, and we need to go away and work even harder and get that first win.”

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