And with that, this MBM serenely comes to a halt. Congratulations to Liverpool for grinding out a fourth win from four; commiserations to Leicester, who deserved something for their front-foot performance. John Brewin is at the Clockwatch helm as we speak; see you later for Manchester City v Newcastle United.
Jurgen Klopp speaks. “I think it’s a deserved win for us. We had a brilliant start and played really good football, we attacked them in the right way in the right space. We were flexible. Created chances, big chances, but didn’t score. The pitch got drier, and we shouldn’t be influenced by that, but we were to be honest. And then we scored the second goal, which was good but it was clear this game was not decided. And we had to do better in the second half, but we didn’t really. We had a couple of counter-attacks, didn’t finish them off, and then gave a goal away. If winning away games in the Premier League was easy, we would do it constantly. It’s just difficult, we did it, and I am fine with that. We all have to learn from the goal we conceded, not just Alisson. It was clear last week it would happen one day, I didn’t think it would happen immediately next week! But we could have cleared the situation twice before. Then we give the ball back to him, and yes he could have shot it as well. He knows it was his mistake, he’s man enough to admit that. I told him the best game to do it in was this one, because we won it. But how cool was he after that, when the crowd tried to make him a bit nervous? Apart from that, our defending was good. It was difficult to sub Mo Salah, but we needed fresh legs. If somebody told me three weeks ago we could have 12 points, I would have bought it. Knowing we can improve, it’s good.”
Claude Puel speaks. “I am disappointed for my players because they gave their best. The second half was fantastic with good quality, good pressing, and a lot of chances. We had opportunities to come back in this game. It was a shame to concede the second goal just before half time, which made things difficult. But we changed some aspects in our play to create some strong pressing. We showed our quality, but now it is time to repeat with consistency this game.”
A downcast James Maddison talks. “We deserved more than no points. We’ve got a disappointed dressing room in there. We had Liverpool right where we wanted them. We should be coming away with at least a point. It was tough to take being two down at half time, they weren’t exactly brilliant Liverpool goals. We came out and showed what we’re about here at Leicester City, we were on the front foot, we created chances, dominated for large parts. We’re full of disappointment. We came out with the right attitudes, and there are a lot of positives to take. Obviously when you play Manchester United and Liverpool they’re tough challenges, but we’ve shown we’re more than capable of matching them.”
James Milner speaks to Sky. “It wasn’t a good performance from us, it was tough work. They’re a good team. Sometimes you have to win ugly, and we did that today. We’re finding ways to get that result when things aren’t going for you. Hopefully everyone comes back from the internationals fully fit. It’s a long season. It’s pleasing how we defended and fought, but there’s a lot to improve on.”
Sadio Mane adds: “It is important to score for the team. We play very good football. It was a tough game for us, but we keep believing and fight together, and we deserved to win today. Firmino’s goal was very important, because at the time we were struggling. It became difficult when it was 2-1, as Leicester are a very good team.”
Paul Doyle’s verdict is in!
Jurgen Klopp does his usual post-victory thing of commiserating with the opposition and celebrating with his players. But he doesn’t look in a particularly good mood. He’ll soon be giving his goalkeeper some beneficial advice, I’ll be bound. His team defended well apart from the slapstick goal, mind you; it’s the midfield and attack that creaked and clanked today. Some turnaround. But they’re top of the Premier League after four games with a 100 percent record, and their lauded attacking trio haven’t got anywhere near first gear so far this season. So he’ll not be fuming too much. As for Leicester, they were magnificent in that game, the better team for the most part. In James Maddison, they’ve signed a real star. On another day, he’d have prompted Leicester to victory, or a draw maybe, the very least they deserved. But in the end Liverpool’s sharper attackers ensured the visitors made off with three hard-earned points.
FULL TIME: Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool - and especially Alisson - have got away with one here. Their 100 percent record remains in tact! Not exactly sure how, mind. Leicester deserved something from that game.
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90 min +4: The free kick’s sent wide left to Chilwell, who busts the offside trap. His ball inside is hacked out for a corner by van Dijk. Schmeichel’s coming up for it! But van Dijk powers a header clear. And then Keita is clattered by Ndidi, as Liverpool look to break. Ndidi is booked.
90 min +3: Pereira is blocked by Milner down the right, This one is a free kick, and Milner goes in the book. A chance to put some serious pressure on Liverpool’s defence!
90 min +2: Chilwell thinks he’s been blocked by Gomez down the left, but he’s not getting the free kick.
90 min +1: Liverpool take it short. Shaqiri guards the ball and wins a throw. They’re in game-management mode now.
90 min: There will be five minutes of added time. Plenty of time for Leicester to find an equaliser against a nervous Liverpool. Shaqiri tries his best to relieve the pressure by skittering down the right wing and earning a corner.
89 min: Matip replaces Alexander-Arnold.
88 min: Liverpool hack long. Under the ball, Mane and Mendy come together in the centre circle. Mendy is booked for a deliberate block on his opponent.
87 min: Amartey curls one in from the right, but van Dijk clears. There’s nobody in red upfield, though, and the ball’s coming straight back at Liverpool.
86 min: Robertson bursts infield from the left, draws a few blue shirts, and rolls the ball inside for Alexander-Arnold, who blooters wildly over from 20 yards.
85 min: Mane dribbles down the left and nearly breaks clear, but is forced to check back. He tees up Robertson who has a blast, but that’s blocked by Maguire.
84 min: It’s got a bit scrappy. Liverpool are trying their best to slow things down. But then Milner falls over under no pressure in the middle of the park. Okazaki tries to spring Iheanacho clear with a first-time long ball, but gets too much on it and Alisson claims.
83 min: The fantastic Maddison is replaced by Amartey.
82 min: Chilwell’s back on. Milner takes the free kick. Mane rises highest, but sends his header high and wide right.
81 min: Chilwell’s off the field getting the magic sponge treatment. He’ll be back on soon enough. In the meantime, Maguire concedes a free kick near the corner flag on the right.
80 min: Chilwell takes a whack in the fruitbowl. Alexander-Arnold pelted that one at him from close range, it’s a painful one all right. The game pauses as the poor lad recovers.
78 min: Liverpool enjoy a rare period of possession in the midfield, Keita and Shaqiri taking the sting out of the game and quieting the crowd a little.
76 min: Shaqiri dribbles with purpose down the right, but eventually runs into a dead end, falls over and sends the ball out for a goal kick. Liverpool have been impotent in attack in this second half.
75 min: Leicester make their second swap, replacing Gray with Okazaki.
73 min: Ghezzal wins a footrace with Robertson down the right. Great work to claim a ball he never should have reached first ... but he does nothing with it. Liverpool have been second to pretty much everything today. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the balance of play.
72 min: Keita chips a pass straight out of play down the left. On the touchline, Klopp continues to cut an agitated figure.
71 min: Klopp makes some necessary changes. Henderson and Salah are replaced by Keita and Shaqiri. Speaking of Klopp ...
69 min: Maddison - by some distance the man of the match - wedges a glorious pass down the inside-left for Gray, whose first-time cross into the middle is read by nobody bar Alisson.
68 min: It’s all Leicester right now. Liverpool have lost control of the midfield again.
66 min: A free kick for Leicester in the middle of the park. Maddison swings it towards Maguire ... and once again the big defender is caught offside by Liverpool’s high trap.
65 min: On the touchline, Klopp is fuming. To Alisson’s credit, the gaffe doesn’t appear to have dented his confidence: he threads a very ballsy pass out of defence through a forest of players.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool (Ghezzal 63)
Leicester deserve this. They press Gomez hard, then van Dijk, who sends a poor backpass wide left of the Liverpool goal. Alisson runs across to trap, then tries to diddle Iheanacho with a bit of foot skill. He’s robbed by the striker, who slips the ball into the centre of the box. Ghezzal slams home. Alisson has the good grace to look thoroughly embarrassed. He nearly came a cropper against Brighton last week; this time he doesn’t get away with it!
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61 min: Ghezzal is booked for clanking into Milner in the midfield. Leicester then make their first change: Albrighton is replaced by Iheanacho.
60 min: The game flicks into end-to-end mode. Chilwell races down the left but his cross is headed clear by van Dijk. Salah zips up the other end and tees up Firmino on the edge of the box, but Firmino can’t get a shot away.
58 min: Milner slides in on a hesitant Ndidi in the midfield. Liverpool break quickly. Milner slides the ball to the right for Salah; he should have played Firmino in on the left. Salah pauses, shifts the ball, and can’t find space to shoot. He tries to return the ball to Milner with a reverse pass that’s too cute. Leicester get away with that one.
57 min: From the set piece, Ghezzal curls low towards the right-hand post. The ball falls at the feet of Morgan, six yards out. Morgan can’t sort his feet out, and Alisson claims. So close to the goal Leicester thoroughly deserve!
56 min: Maddison, looking for the top right, blooters the free kick into the wall. From the resulting throw, Maddison flicks a pass down the inside-right channel. Pereira wins a corner off Robertson.
55 min: Maddison is such a good player. He bustles with purpose down the right and draws a foul from van Dijk. That’s a free kick, just to the right of the D, and a deserved yellow card for the defender as well. Maddison stands over the set piece. He fancies this!
54 min: Robertson and Firmino nearly open Leicester up out on the left, but when the latter attempts a cute flick to release his mate into the box, it’s easily intercepted by Pereira.
52 min: Chilwell is seeing a lot of the ball down the left. He exchanges passes with Gray, then wins a corner off Alexander-Arnold. Maddison sends an appalling set piece high over a crowded box and out for a Liverpool throw on the other side of the pitch. But then there’s another phase of attack, and the ball breaks to Maddison on the edge of the area. He’s clear in the box after jinking clear of van Dijk! He shoots for the bottom right, but Gomez slides in from nowhere to block. Liverpool escape. Leicester look very dangerous again.
50 min: Maddison glides in from the left and looks to send a power curler into the top right. Alisson is behind it and claims well. We’re in next-goal-is-so-important territory, and it’s not clear which side will score it.
49 min: Salah goes off down the right. He should send Wijnaldum free with a pass infield, but clanks a clumsy one straight to Maguire.
47 min: Chilwell makes good down the left, but his cross evades Ghezzal at the far post. No matter, because Leicester come again. Ghezzall hits a low cross-cum-shot from the right wing which only just curls the wrong side of the left-hand post. Alisson probably had it covered ... just. But it was close.
46 min: Mane races after a high ball down the left. Pereira loses the flight, and Mane threatens to tear clear, but doesn’t quite sort his feet out upon bringing the ball down, and shoves the recovering Pereira over. Free kick.
And we’re off again! Leicester get the ball rolling for the second half. No changes.
Half-time reading: This is a splendid tale. Paul Doyle at his brilliant best.
HALF TIME: Leicester City 0-2 Liverpool
And that’s the end of a very odd half of football. Liverpool came flying out of the blocks, and ended the half strongly too. Goals to bookend the half. But in the middle, Leicester were dominant. The hosts will feel they should be level, but instead they’re two down. A big test for them in the second half, given Liverpool are yet to concede this season.
GOAL! Leicester City 0-2 Liverpool (Firmino 45)
Milner curls to the near post from the right. Firmino loses Maddison and plants a header into the bottom right. Schmeichel does his best to stop it, but there’s too much power on the header.
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44 min: Milner’s corner from the left is eyebrowed out by Morgan for another corner on the right. In the melee beneath, Maddison had an arm on van Dijk’s shoulder. The big defender goes down softly. You’ve seen them given. Though it doesn’t matter, because ...
43 min: Salah suddenly finds a bit of space down the inside right. He turns inside and sends a curler towards the bottom left. Schmeichel extends an arm and turns it round the post for a corner.
42 min: Chilwell embarks on a grand tour of the pitch, from deep on the left to high on the right. His opposite number Robertson will have appreciated his style, up to a point. A fine dribble.
41 min: A rare period of possession for Liverpool. They don’t really go anywhere, and eventually van Dijk sprays a pass out of play on the left. It’s been a strange half: Liverpool started so confidently, but now they look collectively rattled. They could do with hearing the half-time whistle.
39 min: Chilwell, haring down the inside left, looks to send a daisycutter into the bottom right. Alisson gathers with ease.
37 min: Liverpool are so ponderous in the middle of the park. Firmino takes up possession in the centre circle, but grinds to a halt and is easily dispossessed by Ndidi. Leicester are playing Liverpool at their own game. And they’ve got the upper hand right now as they search for the equaliser they deserve on the balance of play.
35 min: Leicester are totally dominant in midfield now. They’re first to everything. Henderson, Wijnaldum and Milner are chasing shadows. A penny for Naby Keita’s thoughts right now.
34 min: A free kick for Leicester in the middle of the park. Maddison loops it down the left, but Maguire has been caught offside by Liverpool’s high line.
33 min: Maddison is a real prospect. He drops a shoulder and makes some room to shoot, 20 yards out. His effort spins high over the bar, though he’s sure it had taken a nick off Robertson. But it’s a goal kick.
32 min: Albrighton has a shot from 25 yards. It’s 25 yards wide right, and 25 yards high. But full marks for ambition.
30 min: Maddison is the driving force behind a sequence of lovely one-twos down the inside-right. Liverpool are very nearly opened up; van Dijk steps in to clear. Salah tries to take on Chilwell down the right, but even though he nutmegs him at one point, can’t escape. After an impressive start, Liverpool are struggling to retain possession now.
28 min: Now it’s Leicester’s turn to stroke it around the middle and make their opponents do a lot of chasing. It’s been a good response to falling behind. Maddison, Ghezzal and Gray look like they could cause a lot of trouble if they suddenly click.
26 min: Leicester continue to press Liverpool back; this is a good spell for the hosts. Maddison finds Gray with his back to goal, 25 yards out. Gray spins, despite being surrounded by red shirts, and sends a looper over the bar. The home crowd had fallen a little quiet, but they’ve rediscovered their voice now.
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25 min: And they come again, Chilwell romping down the left and earning a corner. Maddison loops it in high, but Alisson leaps to claim. Confident goalkeeping.
23 min: Leicester finally show in attack. Maddison thinks about a shot from the edge of the box but can’t get one away. Then Ghezzal slips a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel to release Gray into the area. Gray looks for the bottom left, and connects well, but Alisson gets down and saves with a strong hand. That’s much better from the hosts, though.
22 min: Alexander-Arnold knocks the ball down the right and chases after it himself. For a second it looks as though he’s going to get clear, but Maguire’s not having it and charges his England team-mate off the ball.
21 min: Mane slips Wijnaldum in down the inside-left channel. Wijnaldum gets a shot in this time, but it’s blocked. Robertson tries to recycle from a tight angle on the left, but Pereira puts a stop to his gallop this time.
19 min: Firmino skitters down the inside-right channel and tries to pull back for Mane, but the ball’s cleared. Liverpool come straight back at Leicester, Morgan beating Mane to a header on the penalty spot. Wijnaldum considers a shot from distance, but the referee gets in the road and he’s forced to turn back.
18 min: Leicester are sitting deep now, letting Liverpool stroke it around in the midfield. There are no openings for the visitors, but they continue to hog the ball.
16 min: Wijnaldum works down the right and earns a corner off Mendy. Milner swings the set piece into the mixer. Gomez meets it with his head, but sends the ball miles over the bar.
14 min: Maddison and Gray press hard, high up the pitch, playing Liverpool at their own game. They nearly conjure up an opening down the left, but then the ball’s won back by Liverpool and Firmino is able to tear off up the other end. Fortunately for Leicester, Firmino’s attempt to find Salah with a sliderule pass down the middle is easily intercepted. But Leicester are offering opportunities right now.
12 min: The ball broke a couple of times for Liverpool there, as Robertson stormed past Pereira, and as Mane got the benefit of the bounce off a Leicester leg as he took up possession. But it was a fine finish, and a wonderful run by Robertson, who has energy and determination to spare.
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GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Liverpool (Mane 10)
Liverpool stroke it about the back awhile. Then suddenly Robertson bustles his way past Pereira down the left. He reaches the edge of the area and pulls the ball back for Mane, who takes a touch and slams the ball into the top left.
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8 min: Chilwell strokes a long pass down the left and nearly gets Gray scampering on goal. Gomez does well to get across, block and concede the throw. Nothing comes of that, deep in Liverpool territory. But this already has a good end-to-end feel. It’s open and entertaining.
6 min: Salah rolls a pass down the inside-left channel and nearly releases Firmino into the box. But Firmino has to scuttle a little to the left, so can’t take a shot. He tries to dribble his way along the byline, but Ghezzal isn’t having it and takes the ball off him, and away.
4 min: Liverpool should be leading. They suddenly spring into action. Henderson sends the ball to the right. Salah plays it first time around the corner, and Firmino races into the box. He’s one on one with Schmeichel, who marks his 300th appearance for Leicester with a fine block. But the ball rebounds to Salah, who should bury it. But he sidefoots to the right of the target from eight yards. What a miss!
3 min: It’s a sunny day in Leicester. Jurgen Klopp squints under a peaked cap. Still not much going on.
2 min: Claude Puel’s personal record against Liverpool is magnificent: he’s only lost one of seven games against them. He stands on the touchline, hands in pockets, exuding confidence. Not much going on otherwise. Yet.
And we’re off! Liverpool get the party started. A wonderful Leicester lunchtime atmosphere, both sets of supporters giving it plenty.
No pre-match chat with Claude Puel. Ah well. Here come the teams! Leicester in their beautiful blue, Liverpool in resplendent red. We’ll be off in a minute!
Here’s an interesting stat, flashed up by Sky Sports. Today’s game is a match-up between the two youngest teams in the Premier League. The average age of Liverpool’s starting XIs this season has been 25 years and 228 days. That’s the most fresh-faced in the division ... with the exception of the Fox cubs: Leicester’s average age in the first three games has been 25 years and 174 days. For the record, Watford are the oldest, at a comparatively antiquated 29 years and 19 days. Don’t worry, it’ll be time for kick-off soon enough.
In case you missed it yesterday ... there was some great news for Leicester, as Kasper Schmeichel put pen to paper on a new long-term contract. Here he is waving his shirt around at Belvoir Drive Training Complex by way of celebration. Can he keep the feelgood vibe going with a clean sheet today?
Jurgen Klopp speaks! “Bringing back Jordan Henderson makes sense for the game today. We have to be rock solid in all departments as Leicester are a good footballing team. So we need to defend very well, be really compact. So it helps that the boys are used to it; this midfield played the last third of the last season unchanged. It’s about being fresh and being desperate to be on the pitch. We have to improve in each department, and be ready today, to show we are here for the three points. We want to defend and fight. Thank God I have a selective brain so I forget the losses against Leicester! But we have won here as well. It’s clear they have quality, it’s a difficult place, let’s try at least!”
Leicester City make two changes to the team sent out to beat Southampton last weekend. Marc Albrighton and Rachid Ghezzal come into the midfield; Daniel Amartey and Kelechi Iheanacho drop to the bench.
Liverpool make the first change to their starting XI this season. Naby Keita, who was a little out of sorts against Brighton, drops to the bench, the club captain Jordan Henderson wearing the armband from the get-go for the first time in 2018-19.
The teams
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Albrighton, Maddison, Gray, Ghezzal.
Subs: Evans, Iheanacho, Ward, Amartey, Okazaki, Iborra, Fuchs.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Keita, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Matip.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).
Preamble
Leicester are one of Liverpool’s bogey teams. The Foxes have beaten the Reds at the King Power in each of the last three seasons, 2-0 and 3-1 in the League, 2-0 in the League Cup. Throw in a couple of famous FA Cup wins in the sixties, and a habit of winning at Anfield in the eighties and nineties, and Jurgen Klopp’s side should be right to be wary of a club that have Liverpool’s number.
Then again ... Liverpool won 3-2 in the League at the King Power 12 months ago; they’ve won eight of their last dozen league games against the Foxes; and their tormentor-in-chief, Jamie Vardy, who has scored seven goals against them in their last five meetings, is suspended. So it’s swings and roundabouts.
Both teams are on three-match winning runs. Leicester have seen off Wolves and Saints in the League, and Fleetwood in the League Cup; Liverpool are at the top of the infant table after wins over West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton, and are yet to concede a goal. This game represents a serious test for both teams. Last season it was a five-goal thriller; what price another? It’s on!
Kick off: 12.30pm BST.
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