DIOGO A STRIKEFOURCE
pinch of pressure from Sadio Mane, nodded it past Schmeichel. It was a mistake of an unfathomable nature from a player who had a forgettable night. But the breakthrough was hardly undeserved.
Liverpool were simply way sharper, way more inventive.
Their second goal was preceded by innumerable passes but the key one was Andy Robertson’s carefullycurled cross that was converted by Jota. He is some player, Robertson. And Jota, of course.
Liverpool should have been out of sight early in the second half when Mane should not have allowed himself to be denied by Schmeichel and when Evans, laughingly, headed against his own post.
He is normally deadly from that range.
And in one mad scramble, there were a couple of uprights struck and the tightest of goalline clearances.
It meant there was an odd nervy moment for Klopp before Roberto Firmino marked a return to form with a late header that gave the scoreline a look that ref lected Liverpool’s superiority.
In fact, probably the most anxious Klopp got was when
Naby Keita and Jota, in separate incidents, were grounded in pain. Keita had to limp off, Jota was fine to continue in his electric form.
That will be something of a relief for Klopp but he need not worry about those who will be missing from future games. There is plenty in reserve at the home of the champions. This was emphatic proof of that.
WITH Leicester punch-drunk under a barrage that bordered on the ruthless their keeper Kasper Schmeichel screamed with a hint of desperation, “be aggressive, be aggressive”.
It was a plaintiff cry aimed generally towards his team.
But in particular at Marc Albrighton, who was shaping to go and cover another marauding Andy Robertson mission down the left.
He charged high, the Liverpool defender skipped past, and Diogo Jota’s almost obligatory goal followed. 2-0, game over.
In that one moment, Brendan Rodgers (above) briefly looked to the skies, more in resignation than anger.
It is the problem the Leicester manager had wrestled with throughout the international break... how to counter the best pressing side in European football with a high line.
James Madison’s anonymous display told of how difficult that is.
Rodgers did it magnificently at Manchester City earlier in the season.
And the Foxes have looked brilliant in enforcing those tactics away from home, as their 13 goals in four previous away Premier League games this season testified.
But against his former club things seemed very different for Rodgers.
For an hour last night, Liverpool were irresistible and could so easily have been five goals ahead.
In part, that was because of the indecision from the visitors.
For Rodgers, the outcome was a wake-up call. Leicester may well be challengers this season but Liverpool won’t concede their crown easily.
FROM BACK PAGE even without some of their top players in the midst of an injury crisis. Diogo Jota also wrote his name in the record books by becoming the first Liverpool player to score in each of his first four league games at Anfield.
Jota grabbed his eight of the campaign with a header after Leicester’s Jonny Evans scored an own goal to put the hosts in front, and Roberto Firmino nodded home to seal the win late on.
Jota said: “Playing in this team, world champions, means a lot. I just wish we can keep winning matches and I can be important as well, of course.
“We did a great job, offensively, creating chances, as well as defensively. In the end it was a great match.”