The new Anfield stand opened in the best way possible as Liverpool ran out 4-1 winners against champions Leicester City. The refurbished stand marks a new era in the red half of Merseyside and the result in front of an extra 8000 fans will be a great boost for the team.
Team news
Reds boss Jürgen Klopp made a few enforced changes. Dejan Lovren suffered a nasty looking eye injury in training and was deemed unfit to play. Philippe Coutinho was also judged not fully recovered from international duty in order to start. The Foxes welcomed back Kasper Schmeichel from a recent hernia operation.
The match
Leicester started brightly, forcing the Reds back and creating pressure from early corners. Jordan Henderson then grew into the game and started to snap into tackles, winning possession and launching attacks. The Reds were surging and some slick passing saw Roberto Firmino slot past Schmeichel to open the scoring.
Liverpool were now rampant and cruising in the game. Daniel Sturridge broke free and played a sublime flicked cross for Sadio Mané to loft the ball over the advancing Schmeichel to make it 2-0.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
Familiar problems then returned to hand Leicester a lifeline. Simon Mignolet is under orders to take short goal kicks, but Leicester started to press this tactic. Hard pressing eventually forced a horrible error from Lucas Leiva and gifted Jamie Vardy a golden chance. The England striker relishes those gifted chances and he gleefully dispatched it. Anfield was stunned and it was now game on. The momentum had shifted and at half time it was the home team who were glad to hear the whistle.
Lallana Rocket
The second half opened in a sloppy fashion with Liverpool looking like they had not left the dressing room. The Foxes enjoyed some possession in this period and pressed for an equaliser. Liverpool then strung together a lovely move, and a nicely weighted lay-off to Adam Lallana from Georginio Wijnaldum saw the England star smash a fantastic shot into the Leicester net.
Leicester, to their credit, almost replied immediately. Vardy was unleashed in on goal and only a smart save from Mignolet denied them a second goal. The Foxes pressured the Belgian with some high balls but it was Liverpool with the greater cutting edge in forward play. A pacey breakaway from Mané saw him outstrip the Foxes defence and square the ball for another Firmino goal to settle the affair.
Lessons learned
Liverpool were simply devastating on the attack, full of pace, and guile. The current champions simply could not live with them defensively. Liverpool look like they have lots of goals about them in most games. The three pronged attack(Sturridge, Firmino, Mané) was interchangeable and fluid, it kept the Foxes defenders harried and confused as to who to mark. In this potent attacking form Liverpool should outscore most of their opponents.
Mamadou Sakho staying might be a stroke of fortune for the Reds. Lovren out through injury and Ragnar Klavan not starting saw Klopp select Lucas as a centre-back. Lucas is a solid professional, but he should not be playing at the back. His horrific error let Leicester back into the game at a time when Liverpool where cruising. A fit Sakho will provide specialist cover at centre-back. If Liverpool can cut out the unforced errors, there is no reason they can’t push for a top four finish.
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