Liverpool certainly weren’t at their best, but again they were able to grind out a win and maintain their 100% start to the season.
Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League, King Power Stadium
Saturday, 1 September 2018
Goals
Mane 10′ (assist: Robertson)
Firmino 45′ (assist: Milner)
Ghezzal 63′ (assist: Ineanacho / Alisson)
The game started brightly and Liverpool should have been ahead very early on, when Roberto Firmino‘s shot was saved by Peter Schmeichel and Mohamed Salah somehow side-footed the resulting rebound just wide.
It meant that the Egyptian had missed four of his five clear-cut chances in the opening games of the season and he seemed off the pace throughout.
But Liverpool did take the lead on 10 minutes, through Sadio Mane – his fourth goal in four games.
It came about from great work by Andy Robertson down the left, plus a little deflection that went well for Mane, who then toe-poked home to open the scoring,
Leicester grew into the game and arguably had the better of the first half possession, forcing Alisson into one good save.
Right on the stroke of half-time, though, Firmino headed in past Schmeichel from James Milner‘s corner. It was very much against the run of play, but gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
Half-time: Leicester 0-2 Liverpool
- Mane opens scoring with his fourth goal in four games
- Firmino gets his first goal of the season
- Terrible error from Alisson gifts Leiester
- Four wins from four games keeps Klopp side top of the table
The second half began much like how the first half ended, with Leicester in the ascendancy, and it took a huge block from Gomez to deny James Maddison.
The home side were far the better side after the break and they were eventually gifted a way back into the game with a horrendous mistake from Alisson in goal.
The goalkeeper’s ability on the ball is impressive, but it is also set to get him and Liverpool into trouble and that’s what happened when he messed up a turn inside his own box after a poor backpass from Van Dijk, leaving Rachid Ghezzal to tap in.
Leicester were dominating the game and Liverpool needed to make a change, with Klopp eventually bringing on Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita for Jordan Henderson and Salah.
Liverpool certainly weren’t at their best, much like their last two performances against Crystal Palace, but they were able to grind out the win once again.
The win means it is the first time Liverpool have won their opening four games in a Premier League season.
TIA Man of the Match: Joe Gomez
Referee: Paul Tierney
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Albrighton (Iheanacho 61), Mendy, Ndidi, Ghezzal; Maddison (Amartey 83); Gray (Okazaki 76).
Substitutes: Ward, Evans, Fuchs, Iborra
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Matip 89), Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson (Keita 71), Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah (Shaqiri 71), Mane, Firmino
Substitutes: Mignolet, Moreno, Lallana, Sturridge
Next Match: Spurs (away, Saturday 15th September)
Fan Comments