Leicester go top of Premier League after Ndidi and Maddison cut down Chelsea

Leicester are top of the league and worthy title contenders. Who knows what Chelsea are? Not what many think they should be, that is for sure, which is why Frank Lampard’s management is under fresh scrutiny. This was Chelsea’s fifth defeat in their last eight league matches and there could be no quibbling about the outcome at the King Power, where Brendan Rodgers’s team were superior in all departments.

Leicester outwitted and outfought the visitors and sealed victory thanks to first-half goals by Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison. They could have scored more against a Chelsea team that mixed tantalisingly slick interplay with alarming sluggishness and ramshackle defending. At times they looked like an attractive work in progress; mostly they resembled a disenchanted side going through motions. Lampard has criticised the players’ attitude several times this season. Some do not seem to be responding.

Related: Michail Antonio deepens West Brom woes with winner for West Ham

While Leicester had the summit in their sights, Lampard went into this game having to explain why Chelsea were squatting so far below them. Roman Abramovich did not spend over £200m to build a team of also-rans. Nor is he noted for his tolerance of patter about adaptation periods and teething problems. Given that the club have jilted managers of much better pedigree than Lampard, he needed to demonstrate that in spite of his lack of experience, he can guide this team upwards, and fast. The best way to indicate progress would be to beat high-ranked opponents, a feat Chelsea had yet to achieve in the league this season.

Lampard made four changes to the lineup that started Saturday’s victory at Fulham, which ended a three-match losing streak on their travels. Tammy Abraham started up front, while Kai Havertz was given another opportunity to come to terms with the Premier League. Reece James returned at right-back, with Callum Hudson-Odoi on the wing ahead of him.

Leicester opted for consistency, Rodgers fielding the same side that proved to be too good for Southampton on Saturday. They picked up where they left off, opening the scoring against a sluggish Chelsea after six minutes. The goal encapsulated Leicester’s superior sharpness and rhythm. Marc Albrighton played a short corner to Maddison and then accepted the return pass before pulling the ball back to Harvey Barnes near the penalty spot. Barnes, whose gorgeous cross had led to the corner, swished at the air, a mis-hit that turned into the perfect tee-up for Ndidi, who struck a superb left-footed shot in off the post from 20 yards. The Nigerian’s first goal of the season was a work of beauty. Things had just turned uglier for Lampard.

Gallery: Newcastle player ratings: Sheffield United (A) (Read Sport)

Worse almost followed in the 15th minute, when Maddison thrashed a shot past Édouard Mendy from even farther out. This time the ball struck the bar and continued on over. The chance had been created by Timothy Castagne after the Belgian cantered down the right wing, leaving Ben Chilwell and others in his wake. As a vignette of the better return that Leicester are getting from their recruits, that told a tale, even if Chilwell has generally delivered more than Chelsea’s other recent signings.

Chilwell began to make dangerous runs of his own as the first half progressed. But as a unit Chelsea’s attack sputtered, too many players flimsy or out of sync. Abraham struggled to hold on to the ball up top, while Havertz seemed out of his depth.

Leicester threatened from long range again when Albrighton let fly from 25 yards. Mendy pushed the swerving shot over the bar.

Yet Chelsea created a fine chance in the 32nd minute, when Christian Pulisic combined with Havertz before presenting Hudson-Odoi with a prime invitation to score. But the winger fired a shot into the side-netting. Then came an even more agonising series of events for Chelsea: first, they had a penalty in their favour overturned when, after reviewing the evidence, the referee Craig Pawson decided that Jonny Evans fouled Pulisic just outside the box. Mason Mount botched the free-kick. Moments later Leicester made it 2-0 in damning fashion.

Related: Pep Guardiola says Aymeric Laporte can decide own future at Manchester City

Albrighton clipped the ball from midfield over Chelsea’s ramshackle defence, Antonio Rüdiger bumped into Jamie Vardy and Maddison was left free to finish smartly from eight yards.

Surprisingly, Lampard did not call on any of his high-end substitutes at half-time. Leicester, content to counterattack, tore a gaping hole in their defence again in the 50th minute, but James Justin headed wide from Albrighton’s cross. Five minutes later Maddison prised them apart again with an exquisite pass, but Leicester sabotaged their own brilliant move by straying offside. But soon the hosts picked their way forward again, Maddison conspiring artfully with Vardy before forcing a good save from Mendy.

With his team drifting to defeat, Lampard finally reached for a different plan in the 67th minute. On came Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech for Hudson-Odoi and Havertz. The new duo made little difference until five minutes from time, when Werner stabbed the ball into the net from a free-kick by Ziyech. To no avail, as the German was judged to have been fractionally offside.