But what a result here for Leicester. And well deserved: they were much more incisive in attack, and Jamie Vardy’s first goal was truly magnificent. Liverpool looked good in possession, but their attacking play was deeply disappointing: they barely had a proper shot. Much for Jurgen Klopp to ponder, but Leicester keep on rolling. Congratulations to them, and thanks for reading. Goodbye.
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Arsenal drop points! But Man City win, 1-0 at Sunderland. So Leicester move on to 50 points, Man City on to 47, and Arsenal on 45, along with Tottenham, who won 3-0 at Norwich.
Arsenal have about 90 seconds to find a goal to beat Southampton. It’s 0-0 at the minute, and unless they can score, the Gunners will be five points back of Leicester.
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Final moments elsewhere:
Another victory for Leicester! What a story. What a team!
Full-time: Leicester 2-0 Liverpool
90 min + 3: That’s it!
90 min + 2: Kante wins a throw on the left side. He and Drinkwater have been brilliant.
90 min + 1: This is now eight league defeats for Liverpool, and it probably means they won’t qualify for the Champions League via their league position. Although it might have been a pipe dream in any case. The teams are just playing time.
90 min: Three added minutes. What’s the point?!
89 min: Liverpool have given up the ghost. They don’t look as though they’re going to score, to be honest. Ulloa is on for Mahrez, who is given a huge round of applause.
88 min: Jamie Vardy has never scored a hat-trick in league play: he scored two for Fleetwood in the Conference, but never in the Football League or Premier. He’s got two minutes to make history.
87 min: Firmino tries to go past Fuchs, but can’t do it, and Leicester break at pace. Kante is fouled by Lucas, who receives his customary yellow card. A change for each side: Firmino off, Teixeira on, and Okazaki is replaced by Andy King.
85 min: Huth is clattered by Allen as he heads one away for a corner. He’ll be OK, the big lummox. Milner’s ball is in cleared.
83 min: Benteke turns nicely, but the indefatigable Kante is in to nick it off his toe. Leicester’s work-rate is phenomenal.
81 min: Liverpool are pressing, but Leicester’s big blue door is bolted shut, so to speak. Clyne hits one from 20 yards, and it’s out for a corner. Leicester win the first ball, and then Schmeichel makes the catch. It’s just not happening for Liverpool!
79 min: Change for Leicester: Albrighton, who’s run his socks off, is replaced by Demarai Gray.
78 min: Liverpool just haven’t clicked in front of goal. Some nice approach play, but the final ball has been lacking – and the finishing has been dross. Twelve minutes to find something.
77 min: Headed clear, but Liverpool win it back. Firmino goes for goal from 22 yards. It’s blocked. That was the wrong option from the Brazilian.
76 min: Liverpool have to commit men forward, which leaves them vulnerable to Leicester’s pace on the counter. But that’s a corner, and Lallana rushes over to take it.
74 min: Lallana tries one from distance, and it’s miles over. Liverpool’s shooting today has been awful. Joe Allen comes on for Emre Can, and Jurgen Klopp looks pained.
72 min: What a player this guy is. Such instinctive work. It was just a long ball forward, but Sakho didn’t deal with, and Okazaki had a speculative go from 20 yards. It wasn’t going in, but it took a deflection, and Vardy just reacted quickest, beating a sleeping Lovren to it and stabbing over Mignolet with his left foot. Another goal for Jamie Vardy! Leicester, bloody hell!
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GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Liverpool (Vardy 72)
Vardy again, and Leicester lead by two!
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69 min: Okazaki goes down in the box … but Andre Marriner says no! On the touchline, Ranieri looks perplexed – but there wasn’t too much of an argument from the home players.
66 min: Clyne went down the right hand side, crossed, and Can tried to poke it towards goal, but he couldn’t get the power, and Schmeichel saved easily.
One of the lovely aspects of the goal was that Vardy didn’t have to take a first touch to control it: the pass from Mahrez was so pure, and Vardy read it so well, that the striker just allowed it to sit up, and then hit through it. Really, really great play.
65 min: Leicester have 10 players behind the ball. They’re defending extremely deeply. Moreno’s long switch for Henderson is out of play, and the KP Stadium goes “wahayyy!!” as it swerves out of play.
Change for Liverpool, and Benteke is in for Henderson.
63 min: So now Leicester have the lead, and they don’t give up leads easily: they’ve only lost two league games all season. Liverpool need some inspiration.
62 min: That is a seriously excellent goal. Try to catch it on the highlights! Liverpool look vexed.
61 min: Just a stunning goal from Jamie Vardy. Mahrez hit a fantastic long pass for Vardy over the top, and the Leicester man was alive to it: he let it drop over his shoulder, allowed it to bounce, and just speared a sumptuous, dipping volley, first time, over Mignolet, who clutched thin air. It must have been 30 yards out – from an angle! Brilliant, brilliant play, and Leicester lead.
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GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Liverpool (Vardy 60)
Oh my word, what a goal!
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58 min: Liverpool are dominating possession, but can’t quite work that clear chance. Firmino turns sharply, but his shot is too high. Activity on the Liverpool bench: is Benteke going to come in?
56 min: For a moment, Mahrez looked as though he was going to race clear, but Emre Can did well to hustle him off it. Moreno tries to embarrass Schmeichel from distance, but the Dane is wise to it, and beats out Moreno’s fierce shot.
53 min: They’ve played really nicely around the box, Liverpool, but haven’t quite managed to find a truly clear opening. Lucas shoots from 30 yards, and it’s miles over. It’s 170 games since he last scored, and you can see why etc etc etc.
51 min: Leicester have been pinned back in their half for much of this game, but they’re such a threat when they counter-attack. It doesn’t half help to have pace in your team, eh?!
50 min: Good area for Henderson to cross, but that’s too long. Rubbish! Leicester break, and Sakho’s clearance is poor, but Okazaki, after some nice feet to get round Lucas, fires one into the top tier. Groan.
48 min: Oh, Riyad! Leicester broke at pace, as their fashion, and suddenly they had a two on one … but Mahrez’s pass for Vardy was cut out! If he’d got that right, Vardy was totally in the clear. Actually, maybe the offside flag had gone up, but neverthless: Mahrez made a mess of that.
47 min: What an excellent move from Liverpool. Can to Milner to Henderson, and back to Can … but it’s just wide! Lovely clever work in the box, and Can was so close.
We're back!
46 min: And Liverpool back on the attack. Leicester were momentarily worried, but Drinkwater does well, and the Foxes hammer it clear.
Half-time scores here:
Well, that was pretty decent: Liverpool possess the more refined style, but Leicester are such a threat when they break. Vardy has run the line very intelligently, and his cross for the Okazaki header was fabulous. Leicester have created the better chances, and Mignolet has made at least one excellent stop, but Liverpool have seen most of the ball, and were just beginning to move Leicester around at the end of that half. All to play for! See you shortly.
Half-time: Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
45 min +1: Headed clear, and that’s the half.
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45 min: Only one minute of stoppage time, and Jurgen Klopp jabs an accusing finger at the fourth official. His team are on top, and he wants a goal before the break. Time for one last corner.
44 min: Leicester clear the danger, but they can’t make it stick up front. Liverpool pressing hard here.
43 min: Lallana cuts in and fires one towards goal, but Simpson gets in the way. It’s a corner.
42 min: Good spell from Liverpool: the passing is crisp, and Leicester can’t get hold of it. But then Moreno, who has seen a lot of the ball on this left side, gives it away, and Leicester can take a breather.
39 min: Ack, that was bad from Moreno: Firmino did really well to find him on the left hand side of the box, totally free, but his cross was dreadful, and hit straight out of play. That was a chance, because Leicester were stretched.
37 min: Another long throw from Fuchs. Liverpool clear. And another long throw! This time, Mignolet gets into difficulty, and drops it, but he was fouled surely? Ref says no! Hairy moments for Liverpool.
Here’s Peter Oh:“Hi Tim, 20 minutes in and you haven’t typed the name “Firmino” even once! What gives?!”
Yeah, he’s been quiet!
35 min: Fabulous save from Mignolet! Leicester looked long for Vardy, and although Liverpool won the first header, it sat up for Mahrez to hit, which he did, first time – but Mignolet tipped it over! That was a wonderful fingertip stop, and a super shot: it was heading in. Leicester can’t make the corner count.
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34 min: Lovren wins it, but his header is straight up in the air, and Schmeichel claims, before aiming a volley of abuse at no one in particular. Like father, like son!
33 min: Trouble for Leicester: Mahrez was sloppy in possession, and lost it near the touchline. Moreno found Lallana, who produced some beautiful skill to go past Simpson, and his cross is headed behind as Henderson attacked it. Liverpool cranking up the pressure!
32 min: More end-to-end action, and the Reds win a corner on the left. Lovren and Sakho, Liverpool’s big defensive lumps, come up from the back. Leicester can’t clear, and it’s another corner!
30 min: Mahrez takes … and it’s into the wall. “The wall did its job!” scream bedroom commentators across the land.
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29 min: Now this is a very good chance for Leicester, after Lucas clips Okazaki on the edge of the box. This is a much better angle for a shot.
28 min: This game has been really open and entertaining: two very different clashes of style, but Leicester should be ahead: Okazaki’s chance was golden. Corner to Leicester, and Mahrez takes, but Huth heads over.
26 min: Lovren fouls Vardy from behind, and it’s a clear foul, although Lovren disagrees. Chance for Leicester, 30 yards or so from goal. It’s maybe a bit far to have a direct shot, although Fuchs is eyeing it up. It is Fuchs, and it’s drivel: he didn’t get hold of it, and it rolls through to Mignolet.
24 min: Long throw from Fuchs, Huths wins the header, Liverpool can’t clear, and it falls to Simpson … whose shot is blocked, I think, by his own player. All a bit 1987-era Wimbledon for a moment.
22 min: Ooh, that was a chance for Liverpool: they had a four-on-four, and Henderson had the ball on the right side, but his cutback for Milner was slightly mishit, and Fuchs intercepted. A bit more care and Liverpool would have been in!
20 min: Liverpool are on top here, though: they’re really dominating possession. Milner, who has been prominent, cuts inside and shoots for goal. Simpson gets in the way and blocks it. Brave work: it hit him in the groin.
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19 min: Another Liverpool corner. Milner takes, and it’s short again, but then Liverpool rather mess it up, and Leicester clear. Moreno looked inside for Henderson when he should have given it back for Milner.
18 min: It’s short, but nicely worked, and Lucas comes into the line at speed … and then immediately smashes out of play for a goal kick. O jogo bonito!
17 min: Lovely feet from Milner to get into the box, but Drinkwater is doughty, and comes across to cover before he can get his shot away. Better from Liverpool, this – they’ve pushed Leicester back deep in their own half, and now they’ve won a corner.
15 min: The game is so stretched already: Vardy plays right on the shoulder, and every time Leicester win it back in midfield Liverpool look vulnerable.
14 min: Nice effort from Mahrez: instant control to take down Fuchs’ high, hanging cross from the left, and a dipping volley that Mignolet had to save. Decent effort, all made by the quality of the touch.
12 min: And now a huge chance for Liverpool! Milner found Henderson, I think it was, who headed back across the goal, but Emre Can stabbed it straight at Schmeichel! Actually, Can was offside, so no alarms for Leicester, but regardless: the ball should have been in the net.
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10 min: Two very good chances for Leicester in these first 10 minutes, but they’ll be cranky that they’re not ahead. Liverpool have been let off.
8 min: Oh, Okazaki should have scored! Liverpool coughed it up in midfield, Okazaki released Vardy, who completely burned Lovren on the left, and crossed for the Japanese … who headed straight at Mignolet! Great work from the goalie to get it up and over the bar, but that should have been 1-0. What a chance.
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6 min: Ooh, that’s a bit naughty from Huth, a defender whose style of play might charitably be called uncompromising. It’s a free kick to Liverpool, but it might have been more: Huth seemed to catch Lallana on the jaw with a forearm! It wasn’t quite an elbow, or indeed a forearm smash, but it wasn’t the best piece of play from the German.
5 min: That’s the second time Vardy and Mahrez have linked up, but the Algerian was just hustled off it by Lucas before he could strike one at goal. Liverpool back in numbers to clear the danger.
3 min: Can cuts inside from the left and goes for goal, but it’s well over. Can looks to the heavens.
2 min: Mahrez goes close! Lovely cushioned header from Vardy, and suddenly Leicester were away: Mahrez picked the ball up, ran at the Liverpool defence in that easy, shuffling style, cut inside, and bent a shot just wide! Mignolet was at full stretch, and Liverpool were cut open there. Unlucky Mahrez!
And we're off!
1 min: Leicester get us under way, and the Leicester fans are singing loudly in East Midlands accents, me duck. And immediately they hump it forward, and win a throw. Fuchs hurls it in but Liverpool clear. A good, uncomplicated start!
Here’s Tarek: “I didn’t know Teixeira is now a Liverpool player. Must be another Teixeira I’m sure.” Yah, Joao Carlos, who spend last season on loan at Brighton. He’s among the seven subs.
We’re about six minutes away. The KP pitch looks lovely. Much better than Filbert Street!
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Here’s Steve Wingrove:
“I noted in your preamble’ brief summary of Liverpool’s recent results that you neglected to mention that they are one of only two clubs to have actually beaten Leicester in the Premiership this season. Surely worth a mention this evening?”
Yep, they sure did. And Christian Benteke scored! Refresh your collective memory here:
Many, many other games are going on today: follow them here!
So, Leicester are unchanged from the team that beat Stoke 3-0 – Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki start up, and Riyad Mahrez, their standout player, has recovered some form after a little wobble over Christmas.
Liverpool make a hatful of changes from the side that drew with West Ham: Mignolet, Clyne and Lovren keep their places, but everyone else is new. Roberto Firmino will play as the furthest forward player, with able assistance from Lallana and Milner.
Your teams
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy. Subs: King, Gray, Ulloa, Dyer, Wasilewski, Chilwell, Schwarzer.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Lucas, Can, Milner, Firmino, Lallana. Subs: Toure, Benteke, Allen, Ibe, Flanagan, Ward, Teixeira.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Hello and welcome
Well, the Premier League has chugged along into February, and no one has yet worked out how to stop Leicester City. The unfashionable East Midlanders are three points clear at the top of the table, and although we wise sages insist their fairy story must end soon, Leicester just keep doing what they do: defending stoutly, running hard, and playing on the counter-attack. The Foxes are going the distance, and today they host Liverpool with a chance to extend their lead to six points.
Jurgen Klopp’s been at Anfield since October, and things still seem as uneven as ever at Liverpool: the Reds sit in seventh, having lost seven games already – they’re 13 points behind Leicester. Are they better now, or much the same? A place in the Champions League isn’t beyond them, but results have been erratic: a zany 5-4 at Norwich was followed by a 0-1 reverse against Stoke in the League Cup and a dreary 0-0 against West Ham on Saturday. What are we going to get today? Who knows?!
Kick-off is 7.45pm local, and 2.45pm ET. Join us!
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read why some Liverpool fans are unhappy with the club’s ticket prices:
“The outcome is extremely disappointing and a missed opportunity for LFC to lead in a fairer approach to ticket prices,” read a statement. “After months of time and effort, meetings and debate of ideas and plans to lower supporters’ costs, the owners have chosen to increase prices for many. In the context of the huge income rises the club will receive next year, to up their revenue from fans through season and match-day tickets is both unnecessary and morally unjustifiable.
“At a time of ever increasing commercial and media revenues, the club’s reliance on ‘general-admission’ returns is diminishing, and this is a lost opportunity for LFC to begin the reversal of the effects of inflation-busting prices that have forced out many loyal fans over recent years. We had hoped to find a solution to better accessibility to Anfield for younger and future generations through reduced ticket prices.
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