Leicester 4-2 Burnley: Foxes come from behind to win second in a row

The last time Leicester produced back-to-back wins at the beginning of a Premier League season, they ended it as champions.

Thanks to seven goals in their opening matches, the Foxes are back at the top of the tree again and while even the most optimistic fan would doubt their ability to repeat the fabulous story of 2015-16, this was just the start Brendan Rodgers’ team needed after poor post-lockdown form cost them a place in the Champions League. 

Rodgers, meanwhile, registered his 100th win as a Premier League manager. 

Leicester City are top of the league after their comeback win over Burnley on Sunday night

Leicester City are top of the league after their comeback win over Burnley on Sunday night

Leicester City are top of the league after their comeback win over Burnley on Sunday night

Burnley scored first, but Leicester dominated for large stretches of the Premier League game

Burnley scored first, but Leicester dominated for large stretches of the Premier League game

Burnley scored first, but Leicester dominated for large stretches of the Premier League game

The goal of the night came from Dennis Praet, who fired into the top corner powerfully

The goal of the night came from Dennis Praet, who fired into the top corner powerfully

The goal of the night came from Dennis Praet, who fired into the top corner powerfully

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS 

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Castagne 7, Ndidi 6.5, Soyuncu 6, Justin 6.5; Mendy 6, Tielemans 7.5; Perez 5.5 (Maddison 62, 6), Praet 7 (Albrighton, 83), Barnes 8.5 (Morgan, 90); Vardy 7. Subs not used: Ward, Iheanacho, Choudhury, Fuchs.

Scorers: Barnes 20, Pieters (own-goal) 50, Justin 62, Praet 79

Booked: Mendy

Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7.5

Burnley (4-4-2): Pope 6.5; Bardsley 5.5, Long 6, Dunne 6, Taylor 7; Brady 5.5 (Pieters 40, 6), Westwood 6.5, Brownhill 6, McNeil 7; Rodriguez 6 (Vydra 70, 6), Wood 6. Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Lowton, Thomas, Benson, Driscoll-Glennon.

Scorers: Wood 10, Dunne 73

Booked: Rodriguez, Bardsley

Manager: Sean Dyche 6

Referee: Lee Mason 6 

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‘There can’t be a hangover from last season,’ he said. ‘We are ready to move on and it showed that in the performance. The players have good motivation, seven goals in two games, and we are ready to attack the season again.’

Harvey Barnes delivered an outstanding display, scoring the equaliser and terrifying Burnley throughout. Chris Wood gave the injury-hit visitors a 10th-minute lead but after Barnes levelled, an own-goal from Erik Pieters and James Justin’s strike put Leicester in charge just after an hour.

Jimmy Dunne pulled one back for Burnley on his top-flight debut but Dennis Praet’s sumptuous strike 11 minutes time settled it.

Leicester will need to defend better than they did here to keep out Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and Manchester City in the league next Sunday, as Wood could have had a hat-trick for Burnley. 

Despite missing key players Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes, Burnley took the lead in the 10th minute.

Dwight McNeil found Charlie Taylor on the left and when the cross reached Wood at the far post, he outmuscled Justin and slammed the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester were convinced the forward was guilty of handling but after a VAR check, the ball was deemed to have hit Wood high enough on his arm for the goal to be legal – but the Foxes levelled 10 minutes later.

Barnes swept a crossfield pass into Jamie Vardy’s path and the forward found Timothy Castagne, who squared for Barnes to stroke the ball into the corner from 15 yards. ‘Harvey was brilliant,’ added Rodgers. ‘If he can increase his numbers and understanding of the game, he can have a fantastic season.’  

The Leicester players celebrate after Praet's superb goal from the edge of the penalty area

The Leicester players celebrate after Praet's superb goal from the edge of the penalty area

The Leicester players celebrate after Praet’s superb goal from the edge of the penalty area

Chris Wood got a goal for his side, but in the end Leicester City were too much for them

Chris Wood got a goal for his side, but in the end Leicester City were too much for them

Chris Wood got a goal for his side, but in the end Leicester City were too much for them

It was a sad day for Robbie Brady, who went off with another injury during the first half

It was a sad day for Robbie Brady, who went off with another injury during the first half

It was a sad day for Robbie Brady, who went off with another injury during the first half

James Justin was able to get Leicester's third, on a difficult day for Burnley's defenders

James Justin was able to get Leicester's third, on a difficult day for Burnley's defenders

James Justin was able to get Leicester’s third, on a difficult day for Burnley’s defenders

Jimmy Dunne got a goal on his debut, but it wasn't enough to get Burnley back in the game

Jimmy Dunne got a goal on his debut, but it wasn't enough to get Burnley back in the game

Jimmy Dunne got a goal on his debut, but it wasn’t enough to get Burnley back in the game

Jamie Vardy, usually a big part of Leicester's success, didn't actually have much involvement

Jamie Vardy, usually a big part of Leicester's success, didn't actually have much involvement

Jamie Vardy, usually a big part of Leicester’s success, didn’t actually have much involvement

Barnes then drew a fine save from Nick Pope with an angled effort in the 33rd minute, and six minutes later Phil Bardsley produced a goal-saving challenge as Barnes tore towards the far post to meet Praet’s low cross.

Sean Dyche’s men suffered another injury blow soon afterwards when, due to a rib injury, Robbie Brady was replaced by Pieters.

The Dutchman might have wished he had stayed on the bench. Five minutes into the second half, after Youri Tielemans had found Castagne, Pieters tried to block the cross only for the ball to hit his heel and fly in at the near post.

Barnes continued to cause problems for Burnley and another charge into the box brought a corner, yet Leicester were lucky to stay ahead just before the hour mark when Wood shot weakly at Schmeichel after Jay Rodriguez teed him up 10 yards out. 

Sean Dyche will be frustrated that his team were unable to be up to scratch defensively

Sean Dyche will be frustrated that his team were unable to be up to scratch defensively

Sean Dyche will be frustrated that his team were unable to be up to scratch defensively

It's two wins from two for Leicester, while Burnley have lost their opening game of the season

It's two wins from two for Leicester, while Burnley have lost their opening game of the season

It’s two wins from two for Leicester, while Burnley have lost their opening game of the season

Harvey Barnes had an excellent game, seen celebrating here with his Leicester team-mates

Harvey Barnes had an excellent game, seen celebrating here with his Leicester team-mates

Harvey Barnes had an excellent game, seen celebrating here with his Leicester team-mates

Moments later, Burnley paid the price. Praet burst away down the right and found Ayoze Perez inside the box. The Spaniard rolled the ball to the far post where Justin tapped it in for his first Premier League goal.

But Leicester switched off again at the back when McNeil swung over a free-kick and Dunne barged his way through the crowd to head it past Schmeichel.

The home side quickly restored their two-goal, however, with another goal of high quality. Barnes escaped yet again on the left and squared the ball for Praet, who used Castagne’s run outside him as a decoy before lashing the ball beyond Pope at his near post from 20 yards. There was still time for Wood to hit the post with Schmeichel beaten but Leicester’s slick attacking football merited the victory.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said: ‘The second goal was the one that changed the game for us as we felt we had a grip of it at that point.’ 

It was yet another Premier League goal-fest, with shots flying into the net in all the games

It was yet another Premier League goal-fest, with shots flying into the net in all the games

It was yet another Premier League goal-fest, with shots flying into the net in all the games

Sportsmail’s MATT PORTER provided live EPL coverage of Leicester vs Burnley including score, lineups and build-up.

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