Leicester match biggest EPL win ever with 9-0 thrashing of Southampton
Leicester City couldn't be stopped.
After scoring five first-half goals - including a trio in the first 19 minutes of play - Leicester added four more in the second stanza to secure a historic 9-0 win over 10-man Southampton on Friday.
Thanks to a breathless display, Leicester tied Manchester United's record for the largest margin of victory in the Premier League era.
United set the benchmark in March 1995 with a 9-0 demolition of Ipswich Town.
It is, however, the biggest away win in an English top-flight match, eclipsing United's 8-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in February 1999.
Southampton entered the match winless in their last four Premier League outings, but no one could have expected the ensuing carnage.
Ben Chilwell set the rout in motion with a smart close-range finish in the 10th minute.
In the buildup to the goal, Southampton full-back Ryan Bertrand lunged at Ayoze Perez as he tried to regain possession. VAR rolled back the footage, and Bertrand was sent off.
Down to 10 men, Southampton capitulated. Youri Tielemans, Perez, and Jamie Vardy all added to the lead before the half. Perez scored twice for his first two goals as a Leicester player.
He completed the hat-trick in the 57th minute when he chested down Harvey Barnes' cross and slotted home.
Vardy joined Perez with a treble of his own and James Maddison added a tally from a set-piece shortly before the final whistle.
Not even Manchester City have exacted such heavy punishment. City stormed to an 8-0 win over Watford in September, but that was at the Etihad.
Even with the three points virtually sealed, the Foxes kept gunning in the final 45 minutes.
"I got made aware by Jonny Evans there could be a record," Vardy said on the BBC's Match of the Day. "He told everyone at 6-0 there was a record and was adamant we were going to go for it. We were really hungry."
Leicester are now second in the Premier League and five points behind Liverpool, who are still to play Sunday against Tottenham.