100 not out for Rodgers in rout, Arsenal in agonising stalemate

Despite Balotelli missing three good chances, his new manager was quick to back him up and praise his lively and encouraging debut.

“Mario was excellent,” Rodgers said. “You could see his team ethic – he was pressing, working for us as much as he could. He was very good.

“Take away the circus that surrounds him – the circus he probably invites himself sometimes – and control the background noise and get him focused on his football, and he’s a good fella.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, will be wondering how they only managed a single goal from their total of 24 shots against Leicester (odds-on at 1/5 to stay up), in their 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.

The Gunners looked as though they’d record their second victory of the league campaign when Alexis Sanchez hit his second goal for the club, but a swift reply from fellow South American Leonardo Ulloa saw the Foxes earn a well-grafted point.

It is the second point for the East Midlands side, who have been handed the most difficult of starts this term. After now playing Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal, they next face Stoke City and then Man Utd.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson said: “It was another illustration of how difficult the Premier League can be. We played well, but we have played better and been more assured in possession. But we still showed the ability to create things.

“To be successful you can’t go into the Premier League and just be tight and not create things. We looked dangerous on the counter-attack and with some decent moves. We have got more to come. We are disappointed not to win.”

Arsenal certainly missed Giroud, who is out with a fractured leg, for the game, and Yaya Sanogo looked uncertain throughout.

In the other Sunday match, top 10 hopefuls Aston Villa (3/1) held off Hull City (11/4). The Villans went 2-0 up in the first half, thanks to goals from Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann, but Nikica Jelavic hit back late in the second half. Paul Lambert’s men even went down to 10 men in the 90th minute when Ron Vlaar went off injured.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce was critical of his side’s performance, especially in the first half. “The performance in the first half was the worst I can remember in the time I’ve been at the club,” he said. “For the travelling supporters who witnessed it, you have to apologise. There was no energy, no spirit. We never laid a glove on them.

“In the second half, we changed it round, and we were excellent. But we gave ourselves a mountain to climb after the first half.”