Liverpool beat Leicester City 4-1 in front of the new Main Stand at Anfield.
In the wake of the colossal Main Stand, Leicester kicked off attacking the Kop. The Foxes started brightly and earned a corner in under 25 seconds, although it amounted to nothing.
An early theme, which was present against Burnley, was Liverpool’s insistence on playing out from the back which is easily punished by a team who press high up the pitch, and both Burnley and Leicester do.
That being said, there was some brilliant link-up play in the final third for Liverpool early on. Klopp’s decision to play Sturridge as a centre-forward was vindicated by some brilliant movement and his repertoire of flicks was on show for all to see.
Liverpool’s unveiling was officially kicked-off when Firmino was played in by James Milner and the Brazilian, after taking a delightful first touch, sent Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way to put the hosts up 1-0 after just fourteen minutes.
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The game settled into a mellow tempo after Firmino’s goal as the lead allowed Liverpool to relax and dictate the game. The only periods where the intensity was raised was when either Liverpool or Leicester decided to press higher up he pitch.
A second really should have been added but Sturridge failed to beat Schmeichel when he really should have. Fear not, however, as Sadio Mane soon scored a delicately chipped goal over Leicester’s big shot-stopper. Sturridge broke free and back heeled the ball into the former Southampton man’s path and he did the rest.
The best part of the goal? Klopp’s celebration made his specs fall of his face.
Once again, Liverpool buggered it up. Lucas Leiva received the ball from Simon Mignolet and, from such an experienced player, he lost control of the ball in the box and then had to toe poke the ball but it ended right in front of Jamie Vardy on the six-yard line. There’s no missing from that close.
The mistake that Lucas made subsequently ruined Liverpool’s flow and allowed the Foxes’ back into the game.
Mignolet, who recovered well from a bloody nose, made a superb save later on to deny Jamie Vardy and Leicester City a route back into the game.
Adam Lallana scored a superb goal that rocketed into the top left of the Leicester goal. It seems as though he has taken Jamie Rednkapp’s advice on board.
Roberto Firmino, my man of the match, added a fourth for Liverpool as the game wound down to an eventful end. In a swift counter attack, Sadio Mane sped past Kasper Schmeichel – who had left the safety of his big box. The former Southampton man then played in Roberto Firmino who controlled deftly to unsettled Christian Fuchs, before passing into an open net.
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