5 things we learned as Liverpool defy the odds in dramatic win vs Leicester

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Liverpool made it through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday after a dramatic win vs Leicester City. The Reds wouldn’t lie down.

Klopp rings the changes

10 changes for this one, then, as Jurgen Klopp only kept Tyler Morton in the XI. The squad does look quite thin, after all, and Liverpool took advantage of their fourth-priority competition to rotate.

And that meant some interesting picks. We had Neco Williams playing as a winger, for one, and Billy Koumetio making a rare appearance at centre-back.

Expect Liverpool to go full-strength over their next two games, though.

Not quite ready

Unfortunately, there were a few changes too many. Koumetio struggled quite badly against Jamie Vardy and Datson Paka, while Morton wasn’t able to control midfield as Liverpool would have liked.

Then again, they were up against Leicester’s best XI.

And so Liverpool changed things up for the second half, bringing on Ibrahima Koante, James Milner and Diogo Jota. All three were inspired changes as the Reds turned things around.

Mentality monsters

2-0, 3-1 down – didn’t matter. Liverpool forced their way back against the odds vs Leicester

Leicester put out an incredibly strong team, while the Reds were without virtually everyone from their best XI. Jordan Henderson is probably the only starter who would make that XI on current form, in fact. So Liverpool shouldn’t have won this game.

And yet, they found a way. Klopp’s second-half substitutions proved inspired as Konate kept things tight at the back, Jota scored Liverpool’s second and Milner created the equaliser.

And what an equaliser. Takumi Minamio got his moment, controlling and finishing in style with 95 minutes on the clock. Liverpool refused to lie down here.

Second-best is good enough

Liverpool put out a second-string here but ended up holding their own against a team as good as Leicester. There’s not really a stronger sign that the club has some fantastic depth right now.

In fact, being able to beat Leicester without Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah shows just how healthy things are. It’s often felt that there’s a reliance on the Egyptian, in particular, but Liverpool competed here without him.

That might just earn Liverpool some silverware this season…

Long time coming

It does feel as though Liverpool can win the Carabao Cup this season. We haven’t really said that for some time, with Manchester City and their ludicrous squad depth proving difficult to compete with.

With Pep Guardiola’s side already out, Liverpool have a real chance here. It’ll be tough – a game against Arsenal to come – but the Reds probably won’t put out an XI as weak as this again this season.

The old trophy might be coming home after a long absence.