Liverpool 4-1 Leicester City – Reds demolish the champions at Anfield

Premier League
Saturday 10 September 2016 - 5:30 pm
Anfield
Liverpool4
1Leicester
Show Match Events

Liverpool celebrated their first home game of the season with a comprehensive victory over Leicester City.

The Foxes won the Premier League last season but the reds were easily the better side in this game.

Dejan Lovren missed out after suffering a black eye following a training ground incident with Kevin Stewart yesterday.

How the game unfolded

With Klavan also not fully fit - Lucas Leiva stepped into the centre back role alongside Joel Matip.

Team: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Lallana, Mane, Firmino, Sturridge
Subs: Karius, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Grujic, Coutinho, Origi

First half

From the whistle, Leicester initially looked the most dangerous - Okazaki with the first shot of the game. But after the opening five minutes the reds grew into a period of domination.

The much maligned Roberto Firmino grabbed the first goal of the game after a terrific pass from left back James Milner.  'Millie' fed the ball through to Firmino who turned in the box and fired his right footed shot across the goalkeepers body into the net.

Daniel Sturridge should have doubled Liverpool's lead but he fired straight at Kasper Schmeichel from 6 yards.  Sadio Mane had teed up the shot after a run into the right hand side of the box.

Minutes later the roles were reversed - Sturridge fed Mane who made it 2-0 to Liverpool as he flicked the ball over the keeper - a debut Anfield goal for the talented new signing.

With Liverpool dominating an unfortunate defensive error allowed Vardy to grab a goal back.  Mignolet passing the ball out to Lucas from a goal-kick.  The Brazilian dwelled on the ball and with Okazaki pressing he fired it straight into the path of the unmarked Vardy who lashed it in to make it 2-1.

Afterwards it was revealed that under Law 16 (The Goal Kick rule) the goal should have been disallowed. Okazaki ran into the penalty area before the ball had left the area - the definition of it being 'back in play'.

Second half

Coming out for the second half the reds didn't crumble. Liverpool grabbed the first goal of the half to ensure all three points would be remaining on Merseyside.

Adam Lallana, a rapidly improving player under Klopp, firing in a beautiful shot in front of the Kop.

Liverpool had further opportunities.  Wijnaldum was incorrectly called offside after a fine run into a one on one position and Henderson blazed a shot over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Mignolet had good and bad moments in the game and he ended the game with blood out of his nose and the corner of his eye after a clash with Ronald Huth.

There was still time for another - Mane's pace allowing Firmino to fire in a fourth for the reds.

Liverpool started the game in 11th position, as injury time approached they were 8th and Firmino's goal leapfrogged them into 5th position.  Signs of how early we are in the season.

Another tricky game now lies ahead with a journey to an improving Chelsea on Friday night.

For now the reds can enjoy their first game at home of the season - a 39 year high attendance of over 51,000 were there to see it.

Leave a Reply

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.