Liverpool found themselves outclassed by a resurgent Leicester City, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away to the Foxes on Monday night.
Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool
Premier League, King Power Stadium
February 27, 2017
Goals
Vardy 28′
Drinkwater 39′
Vardy 60′
Coutinho 68′ (assist – Can)
After a long break, the Reds returned to action on Monday night, taking on the current Premier League champions, Leicester.
With the Foxes parting company with former manager Claudio Ranieri during Liverpool’s 16-day interval, Jurgen Klopp prepared his side to step into the unknown in the East Midlands.
Just over a year on from their 2-0 humbling at the King Power last season, the Reds arrived hoping to pour further misery on their relegation-threatened opponents, building on their 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
Eager to push themselves back into the top-four race, Liverpool should have been extremely focussed as they headed to Leicester, but that was far from the case.
- Klopp makes one change after Henderson injury
- Reds produce limp start, concede twice before half-time
- Vardy nets again after the break, Coutinho responds
- Liverpool remain fifth in the Premier League table
Seemingly lifted by their change in the dugout, Leicester began as the dominant side, and Simon Mignolet needed to be alive to thwart both Robert Huth and Shinji Okazaki from set-pieces early on.
Liverpool grew into the game after the quarter-hour mark, but it was still Jamie Vardy who came closest next, with the striker fluffing his lines after being gifted an opening in the box.
It wasn’t long before the England international found the opener, however, and it was simple stuff for the Foxes, with Marc Albrighton sending a through ball in for Vardy, who beat Lucas Leiva for pace and placed the ball past Mignolet.
This gave Leicester the impetus to push for more, and with their onslaught continuing, it was Danny Drinkwater who struck next, powering a remarkable long-range volley in to make it 2-0 for half-time.
Klopp opted to change his system for the second half, switching to a three-man defence as Emre Can dropped back alongside Lucas and Joel Matip, with James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne pushing forward.
It made no difference whatsoever, though, as Leicester got another goal on the hour mark, with Christian Fuchs steering a brilliant cross in from the left for Vardy to head home.
This spurred Klopp into action once again, with the German sending on the youth and pace of Alberto Moreno and Divock Origi in response, as the duo replaced Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane.
Liverpool did make a telling contribution to the contest shortly after, as Can’s excellent forward burst saw the German eventually feed Philippe Coutinho, who drilled low into the bottom corner.
The writing was on the wall way before then, however, and though the Reds did craft some promising chances in the closing stages, they fell to a hugely deflating loss at the King Power.
TIA Man of the Match: Joel Matip
Referee: Michael Oliver
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 80′), Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton (Chilwell 90′); Okazaki (Amartey 69′), Vardy
Subs not used: Zieler, King, Slimani, Ulloa
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lucas (Woodburn 84′), Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana (Moreno 66′); Mane (Origi 66′), Coutinho, Firmino
Subs not used: Karius, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold, Stewart
Next match: Arsenal (H) – Premier League – March 4
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