EPL: Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United

Leicester City and Manchester United played out an uninteresting 1-1 draw at the King Power stadium in the top of the table encounter. There were only two goals in this game, but they coincidentally were monumental in their own regard. Jaime Vardy stole the headlines with his record-breaking goal for the Foxes while Bastian Schweinsteiger too had achieved a personal feat by scoring his first goal in English football.The draw helped Manchester City more than the two participating teams as the Sky Blues reached the summit of the Premier League.Here are the five talking points Saturday’s encounter at the King Power stadium

#1 Jaime Vardy creates history

Vardy extended his dream run to overhaul Nistelrooy’s PL goalscoring record

He did it! Jaime Vardy broke the long-standing record of Ruud van Nistelrooy of scoring in 10 consecutive league games by scoring against Nistelrooy’s former club at the King Power stadium. The entire arena erupted into hysteria as Vardy celebrated his goal with his trademark open armed celebration.

The England international has had a fairytale-like career graph where he has meteorically risen right from the bottom to the pinnacle of English football. In three years, Vardy has risen from the anonymity of the Non-League football for Fleetwood Town to the glitz and glamour of Premier League with Leicester City.

Vardy has been in imperious form for the Foxes this season and arguably the club’s best centre-forward in the recent past. His indomitable hunger to score goals has been one of the foremost qualities this season. He has become first player in the history of Premier League football to score in 11 consecutive games. This run has seen him score 13 goals in 11 games making him the league’s top scorer as well.

The 28-year-old’s astounding rise to the top is not only inspiring but also proof that if one works hard enough for their dreams, they can come true.

#2 Can the Foxes keep up their dream run?

It is yet to be seen if the Leicester juggernaut can sustain come the end of the seaso

If anyone had said that Leicester would be at the top of the table by November, he or she would’ve been labelled deluded or a troll. After all, they barely managed to steer away from the drop last season. The Premier League is full of surprises and no wonder this season had one major surprise in store for us.

The ‘Tinkerman’ led Leicester City have taken the league by storm with their breath-taking counterattacking football. The exciting duo of Jaime Vardy and Riyad Mahrez has bamboozled the league with their performances. Unlike other Ranieri teams of past, this team lacks the defensive solidity but compensates it with some raw attacking flair.

The Foxes have been brute this season whilst going forward. But the underlying question is, can they hold this sensational form till May? Do they have enough quality and grit to bite their way into the top four? There have been teams in past who have won league titles despite being labelled as rank outsiders.

Can Leicester do what Blackburn did in ’95? Can Vardy be Leicester’s Alan Shearer? They surely have the potential to do so, but can they do so? In time, we will know.

#3 United fail to \'counter\' Leicester

United’s struggles against pacy counter-attacking is a glaring chink in their armour

United boast the tag of being the meanest defense in the Premier League and have been a team hard to break down. Apart from the 3-0 demolition at Emirates, United’s rearguard has looked a solid contingent for most part of the league.

This defense can hold off almost anything hailed towards them with comfort, such has been their organization this season. But despite being the best shield in the top flight, there is one chink in this armour.

With all its organization and tactical nous, the United defense is quite susceptible to counterattacks, especially the ones loaded with pace. Arsenal blew them away with their blistering counters and even CSKA Moscow and PSV Eindhoven did the same in the Champions League.

Leicester who have thrived this season by hitting their opponents on the counter looked like a menace to United. And they did hassle the Reds as they took an early lead by scoring on the counter led by Christian Fuchs. Thus exposing United’s glaring weakness.

#4 Foxes hold their own against flacid Reds

Leicester have been a revelation so fa this season

Leicester City went into this game as one of the most enterprising sides in the league this season. The Jaime Vardy led attack had propelled Claudio Ranieri's men to the top of the league.

The wily Foxes have been marvelous going forward but have struggled at the rear end of the pitch. This was their supposed litmus test in the top of the table clash against Manchester United. This was the match between the meanest defense in the league and an in-form attacking team.

In all fairness, the hosts didn’t disappoint one bit as they gave Louis van Gaal’s boys a run for their money. The Reds looked jarred and one-dimensional for a majority of the match while Leicester looked a lot menacing whilst going forward. Leicester didn’t flinch at the grand occasion and stayed true to themselves.

This team proved today to one and all that their impressive run of form is no flash in the pan. Claudio Ranieri means business as far as the club’s fortunes in the league are concerned.

#5 Will the real Manchester United please stand up?

Captain Rooney drew another blank in front of goal

Manchester United this season have been insipid whilst going forward. If not for their defensive solidity, they would have been accompanying Chelsea in the bottom half of the table. The star-studded United artillery has failed to play with the attacking incision for which they are known for.

Tonight was no different for Manchester United where their patient build-up approach failed to harm Leicester’s defensive organization. The fact that the visitors best chances of the game came via set-pieces highlights their impotency in the final third.

This Leicester defense in no way is a rock-solid unit which has been haunting forwards in the league. On the contrary, the Foxes have one of the most porous defenses in the league. United with the right amount of intensity and pressure could have give this shaky Foxes defense a run for their money.

And these are the exact two traits which were missing in United’s attack. United’s leisured approach gave Wes Morgan and Co. to reorganize themselves and they held their fort against their illustrious visitors.