Jeepers keepers, it’s another scare
Mignolet saves the day for generous Liverpool
THE familiar defensive jitters were as prevalent as ever but Liverpool can finally celebrate a win nevertheless.
Twice in this game Jurgen Klopp’s men looked ready to coast to three points but on each occasion they lapsed at the back to give Leicester a scent of blood.
That they escaped the King Power Stadium with a first victory since August owes much to Philippe Coutinho’s enduring class and Jamie Vardy encountering a goalkeeper with iron-claded wrists.
Simon Mignolet stood up to Vardy’s sledgehammer penalty that would have levelled matters at 3-3.
Vardy may have to vary his previously successful technique from the spot given this one was clearly telegraphed.
For Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare, it was another punchy peformance that went unrewarded against the elite.
For Klopp, it was a much-needed win, a first in five outings.
Leicester had come through a charmed existence to win this same fixture last Tuesday, but lightning was unlikely to strike twice given Klopp’s return to his most potent front three.
Coutinho started again, having toyed with Leicester in the first half of the Carabao Cup tie, while Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah were restored.
The early play was predictable, Liverpool taking a tight hold of possession with Leicester aiming to swarm high or strike on the break.
In the sixth minute Marc Albrighton swept forward and Shinji Okazaki fed Vardy, whose shot was straight at Mignolet, who parried.
Dejan Lovren dithered criminally to allow Riyad Mahrez first bite at the rebound. But the Algerian failed to keep his effort down.
Liverpool began to click into gear and Leicester were fortunate to still be level after the 13th minute.
Patient build-up saw Emre Can find space on the edge of the area and his fine low shot beat Kasper Schmeichel but struck the post.
The rebound fell at the feet of Salah, who should have tapped in but shanked his shot well wide.
Salah made amends two minutes later. Coutinho cut inside off the left flank and delivered a deep cross where Salah had peeled behind Ben Chilwell.
Salah’s header was accurately placed at an acute angle but Schmeichel left him a lot of space to aim for, as if he didn’t expect the Egyptian to make such good contact.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.
Jordan Henderson started the move with an improvised chip to free Alberto Moreno, who sought and won a free-kick out of Wilfred Ndidi.
From just outside the D, Coutinho curled in a wonderful picture-book free-kick. It flew over a jumping wall and bent beyond the stretched dive of Schmeichel.
Leicester took time to recover. In the 36th minute Chilwell marched into the area but saw his shot saved and soon after Leicester had the ball in the net.
Okazaki celebrated after poking home but the offside flag was correctly raised as Harry Maguire, who nodded on, had been offside from Albrighton’s long free-kick.
But on the stroke of half-time Leicester scored. The origins could be found in Joel Matip’s curious decision to foul Vardy as he chased yet another lost cause.
Mahrez delivered a low free-kick that Vardy stooped to glance intelligently, only for Mignolet to claw a hand to divert.
As is so often the way with the Belgian though, one good thing was followed by bad.
From Albrighton’s corner, the Belgian flapped at the ball under pressure from Okazaki. Ndidi won the header, the ball ricochet off Joe Gomez, and it was trickling for the line when Okazaki made sure, despite Mignolet grabbing him.
Shortly after the break Can wasted an excellent chance, heading over when in space at the far post but in the 68th minute Liverpool had a third.
Maguire was caught upfield in possession by Henderson and Klopp’s team had a three-on-two break.
Daniel Sturridge squared to Henderson and though Maguire had raced back, the Liverpool captain calmly checked inside and swept in his finish. Schmeichel turned the air blue.
Within a minute the deficit was back to one goal, though. Albrighton did superbly to beat Gomez and find Demarai Gray with a cross. The sub chested and volleyed with fine technique and although Mignolet saved, Vardy headed in the rebound.
Almost as quickly Leicester should have been level. Andy King released Vardy with a superb sliced pass and Mignolet’s wild swipe took a slither of the ball and all of the Leicester striker’s legs. Penalty.
Mignolet was at least wise to Vardy’s spot-kick style, standing up and punching clear when the strike was drilled down the middle.
LEICESTER (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Simpson 6.5, Morgan 6.5, Maguire 6, Chilwell 6.5; Mahrez 6 (Gray 61mins, 6.5), King 7, Ndidi 6, Albrighton 7 (Slimani 80); Okazaki 7 (Iheanacho 75); Vardy 7.5. Subs not used: Hamer, Amartey, Iborra, Fuchs. Booked: Albrighton, Ndidi, Vardy. liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet 6; Gomez 6, Matip 6, Lovren 5, Moreno 6.5; Wijnaldum 6.5, Henderson 7, Can 7.5 (Milner 75); Salah 7, Firmino 6.5 (Sturridge 65, 6.5), Coutinho 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 79). Subs not used: Karius, Klavan, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold. Booked: Matip, Lovren, Mignolet. referee: Anthony Taylor 7.