EPL: Van Nistelrooy Off To Winning Start At Leicester, Palace Beat Ipswich
Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a fantastic start as Leicester City’s manager, leading his team to a 3-1 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League. The match took place at King Power Stadium, marking a promising debut for the Dutchman, who recently left Manchester United.
Leicester struck early, with Jamie Vardy scoring just 99 seconds into the game. After a VAR review confirmed he was onside, Vardy celebrated his fifth goal of the season. Despite dominating possession and taking 31 shots, West Ham struggled to find the back of the net.
Van Nistelrooy praised his team’s spirit but acknowledged the need for improvement. “On a long-term basis, we know the performances need to get better,” he said.
Leicester extended their lead with goals from Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka, who sealed the victory. Niclas Fuellkrug managed a late goal for West Ham, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
The loss added pressure on West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui, as this was the team’s seventh defeat in 14 matches. West Ham had a goal controversially disallowed, leading to frustrations from fans and players.
In another match, Crystal Palace won 1-0 against Ipswich Town, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring the only goal. This victory helped Palace move three points clear of the relegation zone, while Ipswich remained at the bottom of the table.
However, Palace’s captain Marc Guehi is at risk of suspension after wearing an armband with the message “I love Jesus,” which goes against FA rules during the “Rainbow Laces” campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Ipswich’s captain Sam Morsy also opted out of wearing the rainbow armband for religious reasons.
