Liverpool scraped out a much-needed victory against Leicester City before the international break.
Liverpool beat Leicester City 2-1 in a pulsating end-to-end contest. Chances were premium as both the sides took the opportunities came in their way.
The hosts lead the game in the 40th minute through Sadio Mane, who ran behind Jonny Evans to open the scoring. It was a delicious ball from James Milner to set up the Sengalese International in the first-half. Until the final whistle, the Reds defended and saw out the game.
It was an erratic second 45 minutes with numerous misplaced passes. Liverpool were happy to invite pressure and hit their opponents on the counter-attack. However, Leicester City’s midfield was totally relentless and kept on ticking the passes with the exquisite passing. They finally got the deserved equalizer in the 80th minute when Ayoze Perez picked out James Maddison inside the penalty box.
The English International took a touch and scored from a good position to threaten Liverpool’s 16-game winning run in the Premier League. Liverpool pressed higher and were totally motivated to get the go-ahead goal. They didn’t have any chances, but received a penalty in the stoppage time when Jonny Evans clipped Sadio Mane. Ever-reliable James Milner scored calmly from the spot to put Liverpool on the front and get the much-needed three points.
Liverpool are currently leading the table by eight points having played a game more than Manchester City, who face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. Leicester City, on the other hand, are not displaced from their familiar third position.
As we discuss the game, we look at two talking points from Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over the Foxes.
#1 Liverpool looked a better team when pressing higher up the pitch
Leicester City played an open game after conceding Sadio Mane’s goal in the first half. The Senegalese International scored in the 40th minute and for the rest of the half, the Foxes were trying to press higher up the pitch and lost possessions in dangerous situations.
Even, during the opening moments of the second 45 minutes, Brendan Rodgers left them exposed – forcing his players to draw level. The Reds had two chances through Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum in the second half, but both couldn’t give trouble to Kasper Schmeichel. Those shots were straight at him and this helped the visitors course.
After reaching the 60-minute mark, the hosts sat back and invited pressure in the hopes of shutting down their opposition. But, the midfielders had the panache to pick pockets of spaces inside Liverpool’s defence.
The Reds pressed higher up the pitch for a few minutes and it worked the best for Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool manager should’ve installed a brave approach and saw out the game rather than taking the game to the final moment.
#2 Jurgen Klopp’s approach by man-marking Leicester City’s full-backs paid off
After conceding three against Salzburg in the mid-week, Jurgen Klopp wanted his team to cut down the defensive flaws. Since Leicester City like to push their full-backs higher up the pitch and get involved in the attack, the German wanted Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to cover Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell, while Mohamed Salah enjoyed freedom in the offensive areas of the pitch.
Leicester City possess second-best full-back pair in the league and it required a lot to stop them. It was an important three points and Klopp’s mastery to demand Mane and Firmino to stick with Pereira and Chilwell well and truly paid off.
Liverpool had plenty of breakaways on the break, but they failed to take it. It was majorly down to the poor display of Mohamed Salah, who didn’t turn up to the task. Brendan Rodgers had his midfielder tick boxes, but stumbled in the final third as full-backs apply the second-last finishing touch before the attackers.
