Inevitably, Liverpool make seven changes from the midweek League Cup loss. Philippe Coutinho, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum remain in the team while Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are back in attack, Emre Can returns to midfield and Simon Mignolet is back between the posts.
For Leicester, Jamie Vardy is fit to start, despite missing the League Cup clash with a groin problem.
Shinji Okazaki – who scored the opener against the Reds on Tuesday – is alongside him.
23 Sep 2017
5:27PM
There was some talk that 19-year-old Kildare native Conor Masterson was going to be involved for Liverpool today as he didn’t feature in the club’s U-23 game last night. But, Lovren and Matip are both fit enough to start and the apparent defensive injury crisis has been averted for now.
The guests on the attack straight away here. Good running from Coutinho in the left channel and the break leads to Emre Can having three separate chances at getting the ball in the area. Finally, he gets it into the danger area but Schmeichel gets down and smothers the cross.
CHANCE! Well, Liverpool are all over the place at the back here. Vardy holds his line in the left channel and suddenly he’s clear after a simple ball into his path. He races away from Matip but the angle is unkind. He doesn’t fancy his left foot and trying to whip it across Mignolet so he tries to open up his body. His side-foot with his right is easy for the goalkeeper, though, and he stands up well to it. On the rebound, Mahrez can only send the loose ball over the bar.
VERY CLOSE! What a miss that is by Mo Salah! He’ll have nightmares about it. It’s a well-worked move by Liverpool, actually. They’re patient on the edge of the area with a wall of blue shirts in front of them and Salah is clever, makes a yard and tees up Can. He conjures a really sweet strike that arrows towards the bottom corner but pings back off the upright. And when the rebound comes to Salah, with an open goal gaping, he can only steer it wide. It came at him a bit quickly but he should do better.
Well, he instantly makes up for this miss! It’s his sixth of the season and it comes courtesy of a sumptuous cross from Coutinho on the left side. He curls in a magnificent right-footed ball and Salah sends it towards the near post as he’s off-balance and the angle isn’t great. It’s an excellent header but Schmeichel may have been better positioned to claw it away. Ultimately the keeper gets to it too late and the ball is in the net before he gets a hand to it.
CHANCE! Mignolet gets himself in some bother as Vardy chases him down and puts him under serious pressure. His clearance goes straight to Okazaki and the Japanese has a bit of time to steady himself and look for the lob towards the open goal. Instead, he rushes it and it goes harmlessly wide.
Ndidi brought down Moreno – that’s what put him in the book – and immediately all eyes focused on Coutinho. It seemed the perfect distance from goal to get it up and over the wall and the Brazilian made it look so easy.
He set up the first goal, scored the second and Liverpool are in complete control here.
Bit of a lull in the last while as Leicester try to avoid coughing up another goal here. Liverpool happy to sit back and wait for an opening.
23 Sep 2017
6:12PM
Okazaki sticks the ball in the Liverpool net but it’s called back for offside. BUT, replays suggest he was at least level with the last man as Harry Maguire flicked into his path.
23 Sep 2017
6:14PM
Decent chance for Firmino but he pulls the shot wide of the far post and Coutinho can’t stretch far enough to slide it into the net. Still, Klopp vigorously applauds on the sideline.
BOOKING! Matip was always going to struggle with Vardy’s pace but he hasn’t had too many moments of concern so far. There was one early on and another here. He ends up bringing down the striker, getting a yellow and giving away a free-kick in a decent position.
Well, that could be crucial. What a time to get a bit of life back. It comes from Matip giving away a free-kick. Vardy forces Mignolet into a decent stop from the resulting set-piece and when Leicester whip in the corner, the goalkeeper comes for the ball but doesn’t get it. A Leicester head sends the ball rolling towards the empty net and Okazaki follows it to make absolutely sure it goes in.
23 Sep 2017
6:24PM
Looking at a replay, Okazaki seemed to have been pulling on Mignolet’s shirt as the keeper went to try and claim the cross. A few Liverpool players feel aggrieved but the goal stands.
Well, that was an entertaining half. Liverpool seemed to be in total control thanks to goals from Salah and Coutinho but conceding right at the end of the period – and essentially out of the blue – will certainly anger Klopp.
Leicester haven’t really created much but have caused problems from set-pieces. Maguire is a constant target for flick-ons and with Okazaki and Vardy chasing around the fringes, it’s probably their best route to goal. Vardy’s pace in the channels has troubled Matip once or twice but he hasn’t really got the service to do it consistently.
It’s set up for an interesting second-half and there will definitely be more goals here.
Decent start from Leicester here. Plenty of energy and purpose and they’ll look to frustrate Liverpool in the early stages and irritate them a bit. They’re not getting much back from their early efforts but it’s nicely poised here.
23 Sep 2017
6:43PM
Plenty of indecision back there for Liverpool currently. Emre Can just about got away with a risky pass a few moments ago and there’s a lack of calm and composure at the back. They just need to relax a bit and get their foot on the ball in the middle of the park.
BOOKING! Lovren goes in the book for distant. He’s furious that he doesn’t get a penalty after being held by Maguire as Coutinho whipped in a corner. Replays suggest both players had a decent grip of each other, to be honest.
First change and it’s for Leicester. Mahrez has been remarkably ineffective and he seems pretty psyched to be replaced as he races to the bench. Didn’t move that quickly all game.
Liverpool needed to inject some urgency and it makes sense that Sturridge is introduced. Firemen had one opportunity in the opening half but endured a rather frustrating afternoon outside of that.
That’s a disaster for Leicester. For a moment, they seem to be inching closer to an equaliser and are camped 20 yards from the Liverpool goal. But Maguire is pick-pocketed and out of position and when Sturridge races clear Liverpool have numbers. Henderson is far side and picks up the pass, steadies himself and tucks beyond Schmeichel.
Oh! This is absolutely ridiculous from Liverpool. You can tell they know exactly how important Henderson’s goal is – they needed that cushion. So to allow Leicester right back in this is unforgivable. The cross from the left isn’t cleared properly and Gray picks it up, smashes a shot towards goal and Mignolet can only push it into the path of Vardy who nods into the net.
MISSED PENALTY! What an absolutely barmy game this is. Just a few minutes ago they were 3-1 up. Now, it really should be 3-3.
A ball into that left-channel (pattern here, anyone?) sees Vardy race onto the ball but Mignolet is there too. There’s a collision and the referee immediately points to the spot. The keeper gets a touch on it but goes right through Vardy too. Mignolet elected not to go to the ball with his hands, which seemed a strange decision.
Anyway, Vardy steps up and drives it right down the middle of the goal. Mignolet stands his ground and blocks. Liverpool survive. Just about.
It’s been said already this season but there’s great entertainment when Liverpool play this season. Probably several heart-attacks for their supporters but it’s like a perfect advertisement for the Premier League: really good at times, really bad at others, great goals scored, woeful ones conceded. And, most importantly, never a dull moment.
23 Sep 2017
7:18PM
Is there one big moment left in Leicester here? Just a few minutes remaining here.
Take a breath! A remarkable second-half in particular and Liverpool get the job done, though the game should’ve been out of sight.
At 3-1, they allowed the home side instantly hit back through Vardy and then conceded a penalty that he subsequently missed all in the space of a madcap few minutes.
Ultimately, their defensive issues show no sign of going anywhere but Klopp will be glad of the three points.
Thanks for staying with us and lots more reaction still to come on the site this evening.
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As it happened: Leicester v Liverpool, Premier League
Hello everyone. Welcome along to our coverage from the King Power Stadium as these sides lock horns for the second time in a week.
Liverpool suffered League Cup defeat to the Foxes on Tuesday but this is a different proposition.
Both sides have leaked plenty of goals so far this term so expect lots of action.
The teams are in. Let’s see how both sides will line up for this one.
TEAM NEWS:
Inevitably, Liverpool make seven changes from the midweek League Cup loss. Philippe Coutinho, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum remain in the team while Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are back in attack, Emre Can returns to midfield and Simon Mignolet is back between the posts.
For Leicester, Jamie Vardy is fit to start, despite missing the League Cup clash with a groin problem.
Shinji Okazaki – who scored the opener against the Reds on Tuesday – is alongside him.
There was some talk that 19-year-old Kildare native Conor Masterson was going to be involved for Liverpool today as he didn’t feature in the club’s U-23 game last night. But, Lovren and Matip are both fit enough to start and the apparent defensive injury crisis has been averted for now.
KICK-OFF!
The guests on the attack straight away here. Good running from Coutinho in the left channel and the break leads to Emre Can having three separate chances at getting the ball in the area. Finally, he gets it into the danger area but Schmeichel gets down and smothers the cross.
CHANCE! Well, Liverpool are all over the place at the back here. Vardy holds his line in the left channel and suddenly he’s clear after a simple ball into his path. He races away from Matip but the angle is unkind. He doesn’t fancy his left foot and trying to whip it across Mignolet so he tries to open up his body. His side-foot with his right is easy for the goalkeeper, though, and he stands up well to it. On the rebound, Mahrez can only send the loose ball over the bar.
VERY CLOSE! What a miss that is by Mo Salah! He’ll have nightmares about it. It’s a well-worked move by Liverpool, actually. They’re patient on the edge of the area with a wall of blue shirts in front of them and Salah is clever, makes a yard and tees up Can. He conjures a really sweet strike that arrows towards the bottom corner but pings back off the upright. And when the rebound comes to Salah, with an open goal gaping, he can only steer it wide. It came at him a bit quickly but he should do better.
GOAL! Salah!
Well, he instantly makes up for this miss! It’s his sixth of the season and it comes courtesy of a sumptuous cross from Coutinho on the left side. He curls in a magnificent right-footed ball and Salah sends it towards the near post as he’s off-balance and the angle isn’t great. It’s an excellent header but Schmeichel may have been better positioned to claw it away. Ultimately the keeper gets to it too late and the ball is in the net before he gets a hand to it.
CHANCE! Mignolet gets himself in some bother as Vardy chases him down and puts him under serious pressure. His clearance goes straight to Okazaki and the Japanese has a bit of time to steady himself and look for the lob towards the open goal. Instead, he rushes it and it goes harmlessly wide.
BOOKINGS: Two Leicester players have been shown yellow cards in the last few minutes, by the way: Albrighton and Ndidi.
GOAL! Coutinho!
Ndidi brought down Moreno – that’s what put him in the book – and immediately all eyes focused on Coutinho. It seemed the perfect distance from goal to get it up and over the wall and the Brazilian made it look so easy.
He set up the first goal, scored the second and Liverpool are in complete control here.
Salah was terrific at Roma but, yes, he seems to be enjoying himself a lot more at Anfield than at Stamford Bridge.
Bit of a lull in the last while as Leicester try to avoid coughing up another goal here. Liverpool happy to sit back and wait for an opening.
Okazaki sticks the ball in the Liverpool net but it’s called back for offside. BUT, replays suggest he was at least level with the last man as Harry Maguire flicked into his path.
Decent chance for Firmino but he pulls the shot wide of the far post and Coutinho can’t stretch far enough to slide it into the net. Still, Klopp vigorously applauds on the sideline.
BOOKING! Matip was always going to struggle with Vardy’s pace but he hasn’t had too many moments of concern so far. There was one early on and another here. He ends up bringing down the striker, getting a yellow and giving away a free-kick in a decent position.
GOAL! Okazaki!
Well, that could be crucial. What a time to get a bit of life back. It comes from Matip giving away a free-kick. Vardy forces Mignolet into a decent stop from the resulting set-piece and when Leicester whip in the corner, the goalkeeper comes for the ball but doesn’t get it. A Leicester head sends the ball rolling towards the empty net and Okazaki follows it to make absolutely sure it goes in.
Looking at a replay, Okazaki seemed to have been pulling on Mignolet’s shirt as the keeper went to try and claim the cross. A few Liverpool players feel aggrieved but the goal stands.
HALF-TIME!
Well, that was an entertaining half. Liverpool seemed to be in total control thanks to goals from Salah and Coutinho but conceding right at the end of the period – and essentially out of the blue – will certainly anger Klopp.
Leicester haven’t really created much but have caused problems from set-pieces. Maguire is a constant target for flick-ons and with Okazaki and Vardy chasing around the fringes, it’s probably their best route to goal. Vardy’s pace in the channels has troubled Matip once or twice but he hasn’t really got the service to do it consistently.
It’s set up for an interesting second-half and there will definitely be more goals here.
SECOND HALF!
Decent start from Leicester here. Plenty of energy and purpose and they’ll look to frustrate Liverpool in the early stages and irritate them a bit. They’re not getting much back from their early efforts but it’s nicely poised here.
Plenty of indecision back there for Liverpool currently. Emre Can just about got away with a risky pass a few moments ago and there’s a lack of calm and composure at the back. They just need to relax a bit and get their foot on the ball in the middle of the park.
BOOKING! Lovren goes in the book for distant. He’s furious that he doesn’t get a penalty after being held by Maguire as Coutinho whipped in a corner. Replays suggest both players had a decent grip of each other, to be honest.
SUBSTITUTION! Gray (on) – Mahrez (off)
First change and it’s for Leicester. Mahrez has been remarkably ineffective and he seems pretty psyched to be replaced as he races to the bench. Didn’t move that quickly all game.
SUBSTITUTION! Sturridge (on) – Firmino (off)
Liverpool needed to inject some urgency and it makes sense that Sturridge is introduced. Firemen had one opportunity in the opening half but endured a rather frustrating afternoon outside of that.
GOAL! Henderson!
That’s a disaster for Leicester. For a moment, they seem to be inching closer to an equaliser and are camped 20 yards from the Liverpool goal. But Maguire is pick-pocketed and out of position and when Sturridge races clear Liverpool have numbers. Henderson is far side and picks up the pass, steadies himself and tucks beyond Schmeichel.
GOAL! Vardy!
Oh! This is absolutely ridiculous from Liverpool. You can tell they know exactly how important Henderson’s goal is – they needed that cushion. So to allow Leicester right back in this is unforgivable. The cross from the left isn’t cleared properly and Gray picks it up, smashes a shot towards goal and Mignolet can only push it into the path of Vardy who nods into the net.
MISSED PENALTY! What an absolutely barmy game this is. Just a few minutes ago they were 3-1 up. Now, it really should be 3-3.
A ball into that left-channel (pattern here, anyone?) sees Vardy race onto the ball but Mignolet is there too. There’s a collision and the referee immediately points to the spot. The keeper gets a touch on it but goes right through Vardy too. Mignolet elected not to go to the ball with his hands, which seemed a strange decision.
Anyway, Vardy steps up and drives it right down the middle of the goal. Mignolet stands his ground and blocks. Liverpool survive. Just about.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Iheanacho (on) – Okazaki (off) & Milner (on) – Can (off)
A change for either side. Don’t go anywhere. This is great fun. Expect more twists and turns before full-time.
SUBSTITUTION! Oxlade-Chamberlain (on) – Coutinho (off)
A final change for the guests.
It’s been said already this season but there’s great entertainment when Liverpool play this season. Probably several heart-attacks for their supporters but it’s like a perfect advertisement for the Premier League: really good at times, really bad at others, great goals scored, woeful ones conceded. And, most importantly, never a dull moment.
Is there one big moment left in Leicester here? Just a few minutes remaining here.
You’ll Never Walk Alone rings around the King Power Stadium. It seems Liverpool will take the win here though the same questions persist.
Free-kick for Leicester here in a great position.
FULL-TIME!
Take a breath! A remarkable second-half in particular and Liverpool get the job done, though the game should’ve been out of sight.
At 3-1, they allowed the home side instantly hit back through Vardy and then conceded a penalty that he subsequently missed all in the space of a madcap few minutes.
Ultimately, their defensive issues show no sign of going anywhere but Klopp will be glad of the three points.
Thanks for staying with us and lots more reaction still to come on the site this evening.
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