Klopp’s concession after Reds cave in at Leicester
LEICESTER CITY 3 Maddison (78), Vardy (81), Barnes (85) LIVERPOOL 1 Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool’s title defence is over after their alarming capitulation at Leicester.
The Reds are 10 points behind leaders Manchester City, having played two games more following this defeat.
Alisson’s mistake, when he raced out of his goal and collided with Ozan Kabak, allowed Jamie Vardy to put Leicester ahead with nine minutes left.
James Maddison’s free-kick had levelled just three minutes earlier after Mo Salah gave Liverpool a second-half lead.
Harvey Barnes secured the points with five minutes remaining – lifting Leicester into second – and Klopp conceded the title.
“Yes. I don’t think we can close the gap,” he said after a third straight League defeat.
“We have to win football games and big parts of the football were really good. We have to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.
“Today, we didn’t do that. The rest of the game was really good. First we have to perform again, results are massively related to the performance. We are not worrying about the title, we are not silly.
“With the majority of the game I agree it was a really good game. It’s not easy to dominate Leicester in the way we dominated.
“We scored a great goal, but conceded a strange one and I think it’s offside and the 2-1 is a misunderstanding.
“That had too big an impact on the game. We had to show a different reaction and the third we gave away too easily.”
Klopp would have never envisaged such a collapse after a bright start, despite Maddison trying to lob Alisson from inside his own half.
Jordan Henderson’s raking 50-yard pass sent Salah clear of Ricardo Pereira yet the
forward failed to get the ball under control as he burst into the area
Vardy lifted the ball over from an angle after Barnes picked him out and Liverpool’s injury worries continued when James Milner was forced off after just 17 minutes, Thiago replacing him.
The visitors continued to probe with Salah giving Pereira a difficult half.
The Egypt international skipped away and his cross was turned wide by Sadio Mane before Kasper Schmeichel produced a worldclass save to deny Roberto Firmino’s header – although Henderson was flagged offside in the build up.
Leicester should have opened the scoring nine minutes before the break. Barnes picked out Vardy in the area but, unmarked seven yards out, he headed straight at Alisson. It was a chance the former England striker would usually take and he missed another golden one soon after.
Debutant Ozan Kabak’s slip allowed Maddison’s impudent flick to send the striker clear, but his rising drive hit the bar.
For all their possession, Liverpool could have gone into the break two goals down, but started the second half as they did the first, pinning the Foxes back.
Klopp’s side came close after 57 minutes. Pereira brought down Salah and Trent Alexander-arnold’s 30-yard free-kick clipped Vardy in the wall and bounced off the bar.
Leicester’s resolve looked like holding firm, with the returning Wilfred Ndidi quietly efficient, but Liverpool finally broke through after 67 minutes.
Alexander-arnold found Firmino in the area and his cute turn teed up Salah to curl into the corner from 15 yards.
Liverpool looked on course for victory, but collapsed in a frantic final 14 minutes.
First Leicester thought they had a penalty after Thiago brought down Barnes, only for VAR to rule the foul came outside the box.
It mattered little, though, as Maddison’s low free-kick flashed straight in – although it was only given after a VAR check with Daniel Amartey ruled fractionally onside.
Three minutes later Alisson rushed out to Tielemans’ pass, but clattered into Kabak instead to leave Vardy with a simple finish.
Alisson turned a Vardy effort onto a post and Barnes then made it 3-1 after latching onto Ndidi’s pass to lift the Foxes above Manchester United.
“This was going to be a good measure of the development of the team. Our reaction throughout the game was very good,” said boss Brendan Rodgers.
“It was a fantastic win against the champions, I thought we deserved it.
“If you are going to play against a top team you have to be aggressive with and without the ball. They are a top side, that’s why they are champions.
“Whatever happens the players have shown maturity and consistency. This group has got big potential and just needs time and consistency. Just missing out (on the top four) last year has helped and this year we are seeing them cope better.”