Premier League, Monday February 27th 2017, King Power Stadium, 20:00pm
Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool FC
Referee: Michael Oliver H-T: 2-0 Att: 32,034
Match Report
Liverpool resumed their Premier League campaign with defeat as they were beaten 3-1 by Leicester City on Monday evening.
After an even start to the contest, Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater nettied for the managerless Foxes to carve out a convincing half-time lead.
And, after Vardy had added to his tally in the second period, Philippe Coutinho could only bag a consolation for Jürgen Klopp's team, who could have few complaints about the result.
The key points...
Vardy and Drinkwater give hosts a half-time lead
Foxes add to their advantage through Vardy
Coutinho strikes back as Reds lose out
The team news...
With Jordan Henderson sidelined through a foot injury, Klopp made just one enforced change to his line-up, with Emre Can replacing the captain.
Leicester, meanwhile, opted to stick with the XI that suffered a narrow defeat to Sevilla in the Champions League last week.
The first half...
The hosts started much the brighter, with Robert Huth and Shinji Okazaki calling Simon Mignolet into action with headed efforts inside the first six minutes.
The Reds responded, though, with a slick exchange at the edge of the Foxes area forcing Wes Morgan to make a desperate sliding clearance from Sadio Mane's low cross.
That chance offered a platform for the visitors to build on, and they began to dominate possession as the search for the first goal began in earnest.
But, as was the hallmark of their title win last season, Leicester retained a threat on the break, and they were almost ahead when a simple long ball over the offered Vardy the chance to poke just wide.
Unfortunately, when Liverpool gave up a second opportunity to get in behind their defence after 27 minutes, the England striker was less generous, finishing ruthlessly from Marc Albrighton's first-time pass.
And Reds' night went from bad to worse 10 minutes before the break, as Drinkwater produced a brilliant volley that left Mignolet standing and nestled in the corner to double the hosts' lead.
The second half...
In an effort to turn the tide, Klopp opted to switch to a 3-5-2 at the break, and the change in formation brought around a change in fortunes, if not the scoreline.
But the visitors could only create half-chances as a result of their new-found dominance and, with an hour gone, the Foxes once again showed the finishing touch that had eluded their opponents.
Mahrez twisted and turned to make space on the left before teeing up Christian Fuchs to swing in a cross for Vardy to flick home with his head and make the game safe.
To their credit, Liverpool did not let heads hang in the aftermath of the goal, and got one back through Coutinho's low finish after a fine Emre Can dribble.
But that strike proved too little too late as the champions held out with little trouble to seal the win
| Matchday 26, Premier League, 27th February 2017, King Power Stadium | ||
| Leicester City | Kick Off - 20:00pm | Liverpool |
 |
3:1Half Time 2:0 |
 |
| Goals | |
| 1:0 | 28' Jamie Vardy / right footed shot assisted by Albrighton |
| 2:0 | 39' Danny Drinkwater / right footed shot |
| 3:0 | 61' Jamie Vardy / header assisted by Fuchs |
| 3:1 | 68' Philippe Coutinho / right footed shot assisted by Can |
| Line-Ups | |||||
1 |
Kasper Schmeichel | 22 |
Simon Mignolet | ||
17 |
Danny Simpson | 2
|
Nathaniel Clyne | ||
5 |
Wes Morgan | 3 |
Joel Matip | ||
6
|
Robert Huth | 21 |
Lucas Leiva | ||
28 |
Christian Fuchs | 7 |
James Milner | ||
4
|
Daniel Drinkwater | 20 |
Adam Lallana | ||
25 |
Wilfred Ndidi | 23 |
Emre Can | ||
26
|
Riyad Mahrez | 5 |
Georginio Wijnaldum | ||
20 |
Shinji Okazaki | 19 |
Sadio Mané | ||
11
|
Marc Albrighton | 11 |
Roberto Firmino | ||
9 |
Jamie Vardy | 10 |
Philippe Coutinho | ||
| Substitutes | Substitues |
3 |
Ben Chilwell | 1 |
Loris Karius | ||
10
|
Andy King | 17 |
Ragnar Klavan | ||
13 |
Daniel Amartey | 18 |
Alberto Moreno | ||
19
|
Islam Slimani | 2 |
Divock Origi | ||
21 |
Ron-Robert Zieler | 35 |
Kevin Stewart | ||
22
|
Demarai Gray | 58 |
Ben Woodburn | ||
23 |
Leonardo Ulloa | 66 |
Trent Alexander-Arnold |
| Manager: Craig Shakespeare | Manager: Jurgen Klopp |
| Stadium | King Power Stadium, Leicester |
| Attendance | 32,034 |
| Referee | Michael Oliver |
| Referee Assistant | S Beck |
| Referee Assistant | D Cann |
| Fourth Official | P Tierney |
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