Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool
Leicester climbed to second in the table as the final quarter of this curtain-raiser exploded into life, and into the faces of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
When we had Premier League: Leicester vs Liverpool opening the weekend’s top flight football, we expected an entertaining bash, third versus fourth and two of the most attacking sides in the league. Liverpool have been looking a little drained in recent weeks, but when Mo Salah gave them a 67th minute lead it looked like the Reds were about to win a crucial three points. But they imploded within the next 18 minutes as Leicester ran riot.
This was a big win for former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers as his hungry Foxes showed an appetite to stay in the race.
Highlights of the game
The two teams went in to the half time break goalless. Liverpool looked sharper than they did against Manchester City last week, though Jamie Vardy had the best chance of the half, clean through on goal but he fired inches over the bar.
And the Reds started the second half the brighter, pressing for the opening goal and Andy Robertson fired one over after a quick break. They came agonisingly close to opening the scoring, on 57 minutes, when Trent Alexander-Arnold sized up a free-kick and smashed it against the crossbar as a slight deflection left keeper Kasper Schmeichel rooted to the spot. Then Roberto Firmino came close but his header was deflected wide.
Here at SBOTOP we offered the hosts at 3.25 to win and when Salah gave the visitors a lead, with just a quarter of the game remaining that looked a long way away. Alexander-Arnold was involved again, crossing for Firmino and the Brazilian brilliantly teed up Salah who slid the ball into the corner of the net for his 17th league goal of the season. The Egyptian leads the race for the Golden Boot but that will be little consolation for him or his team-mates.
The visitors’ lead lasted just over ten minutes and it was Liverpool defender Thiago who opened the door by fouling on the edge of the penalty area. Up stepped James Maddsion and he clipped the free-kick into the corner for his seventh goal of the season.
All square with 10 minutes to play but, within two, another howler from keeper Alisson, who had a nightmare against City last week, handed the initiative to the hosts. A long ball forward was being shepherded back by on-loan defender Ozan Kabak; but out came Alisson and he clattered his own man to leave Vardy the easiest of tasks to tap home his 12th goal of the campaign.
The Brazilian keeper partly made amends with a fantastic double save to deny Harvey Barnes and then Vardy, but there was nothing he could do, on 85 minutes when Salah gave away the ball on the half way line. Leicester broke and Barnes raced through to fire past Alisson for his eighth goal of the season.
Game over and more misery for Liverpool; Klopp said, in his after match interview, that the Foxes were lucky. But you make your own luck and if you have help from the opposition keeper then why not make the most of it?
Key statistics
The pre-match Leicester vs Liverpool betting odds gave Liverpool the edge, but while they had 65 per cent possession, their hosts were more clinical, having six shots on target to the Reds’ four.
Liverpool have lost three Premier League games for the first time since 2014, when Brendan Rodgers was their manager, but the defeat leaves the 2020 champions ten points behind Manchester City and the leaders have two games in hand.
That’s five defeats in seven for Liverpool in all competitions; and it’s starting to look like more than a blip.
What’s next?
The other teams around the top end of the Premier League have been watching the Leicester vs Liverpool updates with interest, particularly Manchester United and Chelsea who’s fans will demand a top four place. The Red Devils have a very winnable game away to West Brom on Sunday while the Blues face Newcastle in a Monday night clash.
Liverpool were on the end of a mighty thumping at the hands of Manchester City last week and Pep Guardiola’s title favourites are at home to Spurs in the late Saturday kick-off.
The big games keep on coming for Jurgen Klopp’s team. On Tuesday Liverpool head to the Puskas Arena in Budapest, where they will face Red Bull Leipzig in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg. And next week it’s one of the North West’s sport highlights of the year when the Reds welcome Everton for the Mersey derby.
Meanwhile Leicester have a Europa League date away to Slavia Prague before they take on Aston Villa as East meets West in the Midlands derby.
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