Leicester vs. Everton: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Leicester City were treated to a champion's return at King Power Stadium on Saturday as they dealt Everton a 3-1 defeat in their first home match since winning their first top-flight title.

Jamie Vardy missed a second-half penalty but marked a successful return to manager Claudio Ranieri's lineup with one goal either side of the break, taking his tally to 24 for the season. Andy King provided Leicester's third, while Kevin Mirallas slotted home a late consolation for the visitors.

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Marcin Wasilewski filled in at centre-back for the suspended Robert Huth and enjoyed a fine display for the Foxes, while Matthew Pennington and Oumar Niasse made just their second league starts for Everton.

Finally back in front of their home fans, Leicester were also ready to lift their hard-earned silverware in front of a manic audience, per Sky Sports:

This season's Premier League campaign has swallowed Leicester whole—not only the diehard fans of the club, but also the city itself—and celebrations littered the streets as the triumphant Foxes made their home return.

Italian tactician Ranieri went the extra mile to mark the occasion and called in a favour, surprising the King Power with Andrea Bocelli's chilling performance of "Nessun Dorma," per the Sun's Massimo Marioni:

There might have been concerns of whether the occasion would get to Vardy and Co., even though the minnows' quest was resolved, but it took the striker just five minutes on his return to get back to his old ways.

King played the role of puppeteer and looped an expertly weighted ball into Vardy's path, and the England international tore open the scoring—not for the first time this season, as Match of the Day showed:

Everton struggled to impose themselves in front of goal, and with pressure increasing on manager Roberto Martinez, King's goal in the 33rd minute didn't help the Spaniard's case.

The Foxes veteran was first to the ball after Leighton Baines diverted Riyad Mahrez's attempted cross into the six-yard box before thundering home from close range.

It wasn't until 20 minutes into the second period that Vardy notched his second of the evening, and with two games of the campaign left to play, Eurosport hinted the forward may yet grab a Golden Boot, too:

Everton youngster Pennington gave away the penalty that saw Vardy convert from the spot, and the Leicester marvel missed his chance to make it three just minutes later, when Darron Gibson gave away another spot kick.

Vardy could have drawn level with Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane in the top-scorer hunt, but ESPN FC's John Brewin highlighted his spot-kick miss may at least fit in well with English tradition:

Leicester's perfect day was dented when Mirallas got free of his markers to slide past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the left side of his area, but nothing could spoil Ranieri's homecoming.

With previous perceptions of the team long since shattered, ESPN FC's Dale Johnson made one last comparison between this Leicester team and the one we pictured near the start of the season:

The Premier League title may be wrapped up, but that doesn't mean Leicester will relent in their English onslaught, as it gave the King Power a 2015-16 send-off it deserved Saturday.

Fittingly, the Foxes travel to Chelsea on the last day of the season and will look to end their campaign on a high next Sunday against the very team from whom they wrested their maiden Premier League crown.

Post-Match Reaction

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Leicester's Premier League title triumph has been dubbed the greatest upset in sport history by some, an underdog story for the ages, and the players could revel in their accomplishment at last Saturday.

"We know very well next season everything will be different but the fans are dreaming - keep dreaming," said Ranieri, per BBC Sport. "Why wake up?"

Captain Wes Morgan, a crucial defensive totem for the team throughout their term, had the honours of hauling the trophy aloft, and he told Sky Sports what this achievement means (h/t BBC Sport):

"

I am emotionally drained. It was an unbelievable feeling to finally get my hands on the trophy. I had to hold back the tears, I held them back and lifted it up – it was the best feeling in the world.

Everyone has been going on about how I was going to lift the trophy and saying don't drop it and putting some pressure on me. There is no better feeling lifting the trophy. Hopefully, we can crack on from here. It is a big, big season next season but I want to enjoy the moment.

"

Morgan went on to say it's still "like a dream" for him and his players, but reality will undoubtedly set in eventually, at which point the Foxes may realise the real magnitude of their feat.

Another exalted name at the King Power, of course, is Ranieri, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher proclaimed the team's boss needs a special kind of commemoration for this season's work:

Per Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail, the Italian had a message for his players after a fairytale season reached its climax:

Questions will soon divert to where Leicester go from here and how they'll cope in the Champions League, but for now, the city will bask in a moment so unique, it rivals any witnessed in sport.