Leicester 2-3 Liverpool: Simon Mignolet turns from zero to hero after saving Jamie Vardy penalty to help Jurgen Klopp's side edge five-goal thriller
- Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead with a header from an acute angle after Philippe Coutinho's cross
- The Brazilian doubled the away side's advantage with a free-kick that flicked the top of the wall on its way in
- Shinji Okazaki halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time after Liverpool failed to deal with a corner-kick
- Jordan Henderson scored his first goal in over a year after a lightning counter-attack from the away side
- The two-goal advantage was halved once again as Jamie Vardy headed home from close range
- England striker then saw his powerful penalty saved by Simon Mignolet after the Belgian brought him down
The familiar defensive jitters were as prevalent as ever but even so Liverpool can celebrate an overdue win.
Twice in this game Jurgen Klopp's side 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-cladded wrists.
Simon Mignolet saves Jamie Vardy's powerfully-struck penalty which was hit down the middle to keep Liverpool ahead
The Liverpool goalkeeper conceded the spot-kick after missing his kick and bringing down the England striker
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy makes it 2-3 with a close-range header after Simon Mignolet's save landed straight at him
Jordan Henderson finished off a lightning Liverpool counter-attack to score his first goal in over a year
The Reds' skipper is embraced by Philippe Coutinho after restoring his side's two-goal advantage in the second-half
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet attempts in vain to prevent Shinji Okazaki from getting Leicester back into the game
The goalkeeper can not stop the Japanese striker from halving the deficit after failing to deal with a corner-kick
Philippe Coutinho curls his free-kick over the top of the wall and into the corner of the net beyond Kasper Schmeichel
The Brazilian roars with delight as he is joined by Alberto Moreno to celebrate doubling Liverpool's lead in the 23rd minute
Mohamed Salah headed Liverpool ahead after a quarter-of-an-hour from an acute angle after Coutinho's cross
The Egyptian's header finds the back of the net despite the best efforts of Danish keeper Schmeichel to keep it out
Roberto Firmino, Emre Can and Joe Gomez join in the celebrations with the goalscorer after he broke the deadlock
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
Leicester (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Simpson 6.5, Morgan 6.5, Maguire 6, Chilwell 6.5; Mahrez 6 (Gray 61 6.5), King 7, Ndidi 6, Albrighton 7 (Slimani 80); Okazaki 7 (Iheanacho 75); Vardy 7.5
Subs not used: Hamer, Amartey, Iborra, Fuchs
Goalscorers: Okazaki 45+3, Vardy 69
Booked: Ndidi, Albrighton, Vardy
Manager: Craig Shakespeare 7
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
Goalscorers: Salah 15, Coutinho 23, Henderson 68
Booked: Matip, Lovren, Mignolet
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 7
Referee: Anthony Taylor 7
Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho doubled the Liverpool advantage when he fired in a free-kick after 23 minutes. More stats, facts and maps with our brilliant Match Zone
Simon Mignolet stood up to Vardy's sledgehammer penalty that would have levelled this match at 3-3 and it might be that the Leicester striker has to vary his previously successful technique from the spot given this one was telegraphed.
Craig Shakespeare was frustrated that another punchy performance against one of the Premier League's elite has been rewarded with defeat but for Klopp this was a much-needed win, a first in five outings that lifts his team to fifth.
Klopp, who has gone away from this ground defeated on three previous occasions, said: 'It is the first time I sit here with something in my pocket, a big difference.
'We really think we are on a good way but we are absolutely aware we have to show that with results so everyone can see.
'I know about pressure a lot. I had it all my life for different reasons. When it is the right pressure it always helps. When it is without sense you ignore it.
Roberto Firmino plays the ball into space and beyond Leicester centre-back Wes Morgan during the early stages of the game
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson tussles with Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi during Saturday's clash
Leicester centre-back Harry Maguire clears the ball upfield despite the best efforts of Roberto Firmino to block his path
Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Mignolet saves from Leicester striker Jamie Vardy after he sprinted into the penalty area
Liverpool midfielder Coutinho is sent flying as defender Danny Simpson tugs on the Brazilian's shirt
Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki beats Liverpool defender Joel Matip but his header is easily saved by Mignolet
Liverpool forward Firmino is sent head over heels after a collision with Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez
'The quality we have makes us responsible for being successful and I told the players before the game, "We are not the Harlem Globetrotters, we play for results." I loved how we fought for it.'
Leicester started with customary vim, as Jamie Vardy broke clear but shot straight at Mignolet. Dejan Lovren dithered 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. Emre Can's shot struck the post and the rebound fell at the feet of Mohamed Salah, who should have tapped in but shanked his shot yards wide.
Salah made amends three minutes later. Coutinho cut inside off the left and delivered a deep cross where Salah had peeled behind Ben Chilwell. Salah's header was accurately placed but Kasper Schmeichel left him a lot of space to aim for and appeared a little slow to react.
Vardy harried Mignolet into a mistake giving Shinji Okazaki a sight of goal from 25 yards. Outside the area, Liverpool's goalkeeper had to make the necessary save with his feet.
Leicester winger Marc Albrighton brings down Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson in a collision by the touchline
Liverpool forward Firmino battles for possession alongside Leicester captain Wes Morgan in the first-half
Leicester right-back Simpson leaps highest to win the ball in the air ahead of Liverpool midfielder Emre Can
Okazaki slips the ball between Mignolet's legs but is denied a goal by the raising of the offside flag
Liverpool continued to look dangerous at the other end and 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 from the deftest of touches by Wilfred Ndidi.
Just outside the D, Coutinho curled in a wonderful free-kick. It flew over a jumping wall and bent beyond the stretched-sinew dive of Schmeichel.
But on the stroke of half-time Leicester found a way back into the contest. The origins could be found in Joel Matip's curious decision to foul Vardy as he chased another lost cause given Mignolet was winning the race. Mahrez delivered a low free-kick that Vardy stooped to glance, only for Mignolet to divert.
As is so often the way with the Belgian though, one good thing was followed by bad. From Albrighton's corner, Mignolet was much less assertive, flapping at the ball under pressure from Okazaki.
Ndidi won the header, the ball ricocheted off Joe Gomez, and it was trickling for the line when Okazaki made sure with a toe from a yard out. Henderson remonstrated long at the officials and Klopp too believed Mignolet was fouled.
Shortly after the break Emre Can wasted an excellent chance heading over when in space but in the 68th minute Liverpool did have a third.
Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet is at full stretch to tip Marc Albrighton's header over the bar before half-time
The Belgian goalkeeper then fails to deal with a corner-kick that evades his punch and leads to Leicester's first goal
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson appeals in vain to the assistant referee for a foul on goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
Harry 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 went red turning the air blue.
Within a minute the deficit was back to one. Albrighton did superbly to beat Gomez, and find Demarai Gray with a cross. The substitute chested and volleyed with fine technique and though 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, said Anthony Taylor. Mignolet was at least wise to Vardy's spot-kick style, standing up and punching clear when the strike was drilled down the middle.
Shakespeare said: 'We knew this start to the season was going to be challenging. We have to make sure we turn the performances to into points.'
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