Leicester City sack manager Cooper after 12 league games
Leicester City sack manager Steve Cooper with the club 16th in the Premier League after 12 games.
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.
Former Leicester winger Matt Piper gives his review of the Foxes' draw with Everton and hear manager Steve Cooper's immediate reaction to the result.
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester City haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 16 home games in the Premier League and only once in their history have the Foxes had a longer run of top-flight home games without one (22 in February 1955).
Image source, Getty ImagesLeicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the draw: "We were nowhere near the level first half, I won't hide away from that. We were deservedly losing the game and we were second best in the fundamentals.
"It was accepted by the players that things had to change at half-time. We had to be better, that was a must for the second half. The boys stuck to the task, got themselves together and didn't go under. Sometimes you can go under and get beaten comfortably in those situations.
"We took the game to Everton in the second half. Yes, they had some counter-attacks because that is what they do, but we got ourselves level with the set piece. We pushed on to get the winner and it didn't quite happen.
"The game could have been better, but it could have been worse. We have to accept that the point is all we deserved today."
On the conditions: "I have never seen anything like it. It was the same for everyone on the pitch and it was probably difficult for the officials as well. There were times where we couldn't see to the far side of the pitch.
"Half-time came at the right time. We had to delay the restart for safety reasons, but the second half was just rain in the end. The first half will take some beating."
On still waiting for their first Premier League win of the season: "Today we got what we deserved, but there are other games where we feel like we should have picked up more points than what we did.
"In general, we feel like there is a lot of good going on in our approach to games, and in our preparation and training, but we have to just try and put it all together.
"This is the first game where we got what we deserved. Every game up to now, we were disappointed that we didn't get more. We have to keep going."
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external
What did you make of Everton’s display?, external
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
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Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week five, he takes on singer-songwriter and West Ham fan James Smith whose debut album Common People is out now.
Leicester host Everton in a 15:00 BST kick-off on Saturday..
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
This is a huge game for both teams and it is probably safe to say that neither of them will want to go 2-0 up after what happened when they both did it last week - Leicester held by Crystal Palace and Everton losing at Aston Villa.
The Foxes' collapse was not quite as extreme as Everton's against Bournemouth and Villa, but it was still pretty bad.
So, who do I back here? Everton are still without a point and also went out of the Carabao Cup on penalties against Southampton in midweek, but I just have a feeling that this might be the day where their manager Sean Dyche catches a break.
He needs one, that's for sure. Dyche should not be at risk of getting sacked - and I want to make that absolutely clear - but you sense that a fair few of the Everton fans have turned against him now and don't have faith in him anymore.
Another defeat, especially against another side from down the bottom of the table, would not go down well.
Smith's prediction: 1-1
Everton have been absolutely awful but maybe they will play it a bit safer because of what happened to them against Bournemouth and Villa when they were 2-0 up but lost each time.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on the one thing - good or bad - related to Leicester that nobody else is talking about but should be.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Sam: With the signings of Abdul Fatawu, Bilal El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte taking centre stage this summer, the signing of Caleb Okoli went a little under the radar. But, after two great performances against Aston Villa and particularly against Crystal Palace, he may well be the most astute signing - other than Fatawu - that the club made this summer.
Wayne: Why isn't Ricky P playing? Why wasn't Will Alves loaned out? I think Steve Cooper is building a good fighting team, but those high-quality omissions are concerning.
Tim: In some ways, Leicester have made a solid start to their campaign to stay in the Premier League. However, there has been a lack of goals and a tendency to not hold on to winning positions. Do they have the right manager to produce the steely performances necessary to survive this season?
Basil: The squad has lacked resilience and leaders since Christian Fuchs and Wes Morgan left. We got away with it last season but it could cost us again in the Premier League.
James: Since the successful PSR appeal, talk regarding the financial incompetence of the board has all but dissipated. I find this utterly astounding, with the club's hierarchy all but thinking they are off the hook. Their spending on ridiculous contracts and wage bills are one of the key reasons we are in this mess. They must still be held accountable.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Leicester defender Michael Morrison says Foxes boss Steve Cooper's "clever use of the media" can create a "siege mentality", starting with Saturday's home match against Everton.
Cooper said the club have met with the Premier League to discuss "an awful human error" which gave Crystal Palace a goal in last weekend's 2-2 draw.
The Leicester manager added: "We have seen images that show he [Jean-Phillipe Mateta] clearly was offside, but they froze it at the wrong time - everything seen has been a false image."
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Morrison said he feels Cooper is being shrewd with his comments.
"He [Cooper] is trying to tell everybody: 'We met with them, we've shown them, we got the evidence in front of them' and so ask why they are hiding it as such," he said.
"With some of the financial stuff that's going on at the football club with the Premier League as well, some people can feel there is a bit of a witch hunt.
"So, I think he has every right saying those words and I think it will be interesting to see what happens with that. You often see managers get punished but I think he is well within his rights to say it because it is truthful and honest."
Leicester are yet to win since returning to the Premier League but Morrison feels Cooper's words could be helpful in bringing fans and players together.
"It's a really good opportunity to create that siege mentality," he said. "I'm sure he's trying to put that into the players but if you get fans aligned as well then it goes a long way.
"Certainly at home it can make a big difference. It's a clever use of the media."
Owynn Palmer-Atkin
BBC Radio Leicester reporter
Image source, PA MediaWhile Leicester City have only taken two points from a possible 12, the alarm bells should not be sounding yet.
The level of progression from game to game under Steve Cooper has been tangible. The first-half performance against Crystal Palace was the best of the season so far, and it was certainly a far cry from the levels shown in the final pre-season game against Lens, where real concern started to kick in.
Leicester are looking more like a team with an identity every time they play.
However, progression without the return on points can only be accepted for so long. The Foxes are growing more desperately in need of three points to create a foundation in their challenge to survive in the Premier League – and you have to wonder how big a psychological effect conceding so late against Palace would have had.
But this weekend presents the best chance at points so far. A home match against struggling Everton, who are grasping for a win themselves.
Even at this stage so early in the season though, it feels like a high pressure moment that could help to steer the course of the season.
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Image source, Getty ImagesFor only a fourth time, Leicester City have failed to win any of their first four Premier League games in a season. On the three previous occasions - in 1994-95, 2003-04 and 2022-23 - they were relegated.
Everton have lost their opening four league matches in a season for just the third time, also doing so in 1926-27 (first five) and 1958-59 (first six).
Image source, Getty ImagesThe issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.
First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.
I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.
From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.
The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.
We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.
None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.
Owynn Palmer-Atkin, former Leicester defender Michael Morrison and Foxes fan Tom discuss Steve Cooper's comments on VAR and the 'massive error' against Crystal Palace, plus they look ahead to Saturday's huge game against Everton.
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
