Liverpool triumphed 4-1 at home to Leicester City, in their first Anfield outing since this summer’s Main Stand expansion.
Reds owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner presided over a significant redevelopment at Liverpool’s home stadium throughout the summer, and will have been impressed with what they saw on Saturday evening.
Anfield looked stunning in the late summer sunshine, and Jurgen Klopp‘s side responded in kind with a sensational display.
Joel Matip was among those to make his home debut for the Reds, along with Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane, with the trio all in excellent form.
Mane’s attacking cohort, Roberto Firmino, was the first to get his name on the scoresheet, turning the Leicester defence before firing low beyond the sprawling Kasper Schmeichel.
The Brazilian sprinted over to the home support, before being swarmed by his jubilant team-mates.
With the likes of Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson battling in midfield, the Reds looked to dominate all over the park, pressing high and with intensity.
When moving forward, Liverpool were in exceptional form, with Mane making it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark after Daniel Sturridge latched onto a brilliant through ball from Henderson.
With the biggest home crowd since 1977 watching on, Liverpool looked to dominate all over the pitch.
Unfortunately, however, a miscue between Simon Mignolet and deputy centre-back Lucas Leiva gifted Leicester a goal just before half-time, with Jamie Vardy firing into an empty net.
But Liverpool were back in the goals in the second half, and it was Adam Lallana who fired the Reds’ third, powering the ball into the top corner from an angle for his second goal for the club in 2016/17.
Klopp’s side looked to drain any Foxes momentum with intelligent passing play, looking for openings whenever possible.
They found one as Henderson threaded Mane through late on, with the Senegalese beating the onrushing Schmeichel before laying the ball towards Firmino, who simply had to tap it home to make it 4-1.
Not only was Henry among those in attendance on Saturday, a host of Liverpool legends took in an emphatic performance to mark the new-look Anfield.
Kenny Dalglish, Ian St. John and Alan Kennedy were among the faces of the Reds’ successful past.
Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia were also on hand to provide a reminder of more recent glories.
With excellent performances all over the pitch from Klopp’s side, Anfield can hope for more to come as Liverpool push for success on their improved home patch.
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