Leicester City 2 Liverpool 3: Nervous Reds claim nailbiting win after Jamie Vardy penalty miss

Relieved Liverpool celebrate victory
Relieved Liverpool celebrate victory Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Liverpool’s supporters like to sing of watching poetry in motion. But there was nothing poetic about this anxiety-inducing scramble of a victory. Under Jurgen Klopp Liverpool are less the laureates of the Premier League and more the masters of flying by the seat of their expensively-sponsored shorts. Not that the manager appeared to mind. As his celebratory leap at the final whistle suggested, this was a win he was delighted to achieve.

“Usually I sit here saying congratulations to Leicester,” said Klopp, who had lost his previous three visits to the Kingpower. “So this feels a big difference. Yes, we have some issues, yes we lose challenges, yes we concede goals. But we play good football, we feel we are in a good way.”

He has a point. For all their porous defensive condition, Liverpool are a magnificent sight when they attack. And in the early exchanges the pattern appeared not to have changed in the four days since these teams met in the Caraboa Cup. 

Mohamed Salah celebrates his goal
Mohamed Salah celebrates his goal Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Liverpool had all the early possession, most of which broke down on the edge of the Leicester area, where Harry Maguire would intervene and hoof the ball forwards. Leicester, meanwhile, sat back, waited to break, keen to use Jamie Vardy’s pace to discomfort a Liverpool defence not renowned for its ability to back pedal. And so it was after five minutes, when Vardy burst on to Shinji Okazaki’s through-ball and galloped into the area, rasping a shot against Simon Mignolet’s palms. The ball bounced out to Riyad Mahrez who put an invitation of a rebound over the bar.

As a miss, it was challenged eight minutes later at the other end. After another period of patient Liverpool build-up, Mohamed Salah laid the ball off to Emre Can. From 30 yards out, the German’s rasping drive hit the post. Salah, admirably continuing his forward run, was first to the rebound, but steered his shot wide.

But it seemed only a matter of time before Leicester’s dependence on their visitors’ profligacy was properly tested. Moments after he had missed his sitter, Salah made amends. Coutinho’s beautiful cross arced its way behind the Leicester backline to where the Egyptian was running in ahead of Ben Chilwell. At a gallop, he deftly steered his header past Kasper Schmeichel.

Liverpool doubled their lead shortly afterwards. Charging forward, Alberto Moreno was brought down by Wilfred Ndidi. Coutinho further demonstrated what Barcelona are missing when he elegantly steered the free-kick round the wall, beyond Schmeichel. Klopp looked on stern-faced and resolute, like a man who knows that with this team two goals is probably not enough.

And, so it proved. Even with Coutinho a constant source of probing precision, Vardy was always there, always lurking. He had the Liverpool central defenders playing as if the pitch was covered with ice, constantly nervy, wary, anxious. With the half-time whistle about to sound, the England man once more tore towards the visitors’ area provoking a disoriented Joel Matip to trip him. From the resulting free-kick, his clever back header was pushed behind. Following the pattern of the season – in which every set-piece Liverpool concede seems to deliver goal-scoring opportunity – from the corner Maguire rose above the statuesque visiting backline to head goalwards, where, despite Mignolet’s attempt to remove the shirt from his back, Okazaki stabbed home.

Philippe Coutinho scores from a free-kick
Philippe Coutinho scores from a free-kick Credit: GETTY IMAGES

As the second half began, Klopp admitted his side needed 10 minutes to recover their poise. But the irony was, against a side set up to counter, Liverpool reclaimed ascendancy with a jet-heeled breakaway goal. Maguire, who had shown himself constantly willing to carry the ball forward, was dispossessed in the middle of the Leicester half. The ball was prodded forward to the substitute Daniel Sturridge whose perfectly-weighted pass found Jordan Henderson, who stepped inside and shot past Schmeichel.

Any home supporters tempted to head for the exits, thinking that was it, had clearly not been watching much of Liverpool latterly. This, after all, is a side who have lost 20 points from winning positions since the start of last season.

And, sensing their visitors did not have the wherewithal to sit on a lead, Leicester poured forward. Mark Albrighton skinned Joe Gomez and his cross picked out the substitute Demari Gray whose shot was saved at a stretch by Mignolet. But the ball bounced invitingly to Vardy who did not miss the opportunity to score his 70th Leicester goal.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saves a penalty from Jamie Vardy
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saves a penalty from Jamie Vardy Credit: ACTION IMAGES

A minute later, Vardy was at it again. Tearing forward, he was brought down by Mignolet. Anthony Taylor had no hesitation awarding a penalty. Which Vardy in his customary fashion smacked goalwards. But Mignolet stood firm and saved a spot-kick for the seventh time in a Liverpool shirt.

It proved the most crucial of interventions. Though how Klopp’s heart must have been in his mouth when Leicester won a free-kick and swung the ball into his area with the last kick of the game.

“My mouth was dry,” he admitted. “But you do not have to worry about my heart.”

He was right. This time it came to nothing and the manager returned up the M6 in possession of the most valuable commodity in football: three points.

                                                                                                    

Vardy's missed penalty the difference between the teams

It's hard to fault Vardy's overall performance, but his miss from the spot was a costly one for Leicester. Liverpool just about deserved their win, though it was a pulsating game in which both sides were hugely entertaining.

The defending though...

... and breathe

Time on ball (at full time)

Three points for Liverpool at the King Power

Liverpool defend a final free kick and the whistle goes for full time. Jurgen Klopp looks elated and very, very, very relieved.

Average touch positions (full time)

90+3 mins

Leicester are still fighting here. There are five minutes of added time, and they've already had three.

90+1 mins

Yellow card for Vardy, who clips the foot of Alberto Moreno. It's not his first snappy challenge on the Liverpool left-back.

89 mins

Harry Maguire goes on a surprise foray forward and wins a throw-in on the left. Ben Chilwell launches a long throw into the box, but just as it looks like it might fall for Demarai Gray the whistle goes for another foul.

Maguire has been trying his hand in attack Credit: Plumb Images

85 mins

Absolutely breathless stuff at the King Power, with this surely one of the best games of the season so far. Can Liverpool hang on?

83 mins

Vardy whips in a cross which Slimani heads just wide, though Anthony Taylor has already blown up for a foul.

81 mins

Schmeichel saves well from Sturridge! Salah takes the ensuing corner, but it's scrambled away.

Schmeichel has been busy tonight Credit: Plumb Images

80 mins

Schmeichel is forced to slap a stinging Salah cross away from the line. There's another goal in this game, surely.

79 minutes

Leicester make their final change, with Islam Slimani on for Marc Albrighton. Liverpool respond by bringing off Coutinho for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Time on ball (60 - 75 min)

73 minutes

Sturridge is the next to go close as he fires just over the bar, this after another impressive passing move from Liverpool. Schmeichel was worried there.

Some talk in the BT Sport studio of a missed penalty shout for Leicester, after a handball in the area from Emre Can. Could be another talking point.

Mignolet saves!

High drama here as Mignolet goes low to his right and pushes Vardy's spot kick away. What a game this is turning out to be.

Leicester make another change with Kelechi Iheanacho on for Okazaki. Will he be the one to find an equaliser?

Mignolet saves Jamie Vardy's penalty Credit: Darren Staples/Reuters

Madness at the King Power

Vardy wins a penalty after beating Simon Mignolet to a fantastic pass.

It's a definite spot kick, with Mignolet wiping out Vardy clumsily. The Liverpool keeper is booked for his troubles.

Vardy pulls one back straightaway

... which gives you an idea of just how frenetic this game has become. It's real back-and-forth stuff at the King Power, and fantastic to watch if not exactly a showcase defensive display from either side.

Sturridge comes on for Firmino in the meantime.

GOAL!

Leicester are right back in it now - it's 2-3, thanks to a goal from Jamie Vardy.

Henderson gets a rare goal

Coutinho and Salah have shots blocked in quick succession, both from prime shooting positions inside the box. Leicester counter-attack, Vardy sees an effort blocked, and then Liverpool counter-attack in turn.

In the end, Henderson finishes off a slick move. Lovely stuff.

GOAL!

Liverpool have restored their two-goal lead thanks to a goal from Jordan Henderson: it's 1-3 now.

63 minutes

Henderson concedes a foul for a push on Wilfred Ndidi, and Leicester have a free kick on the right wing. It comes to nothing after Wes Morgan nudges past Gini Wijnaldum a little too robustly.

61 mins

Leicester with a substitution, and Demarai Gray is on for Riyad Mahrez.

One-way traffic at King Power Stadium

It's been all Liverpool, with the visitors racking up 15 shots so far - Leicester have managed just seven in reply.

60 mins

Okazaki is dispossessed by Jordan Henderson, who sets Coutinho up for a shot. His effort is blocked, which draws an audible sigh of relief from the home fans.

Time on ball (45 - 60 min)

54 mins

Salah wins a corner after a mazy run towards goal, which Maguire clears. The second corner finds Dejan Lovren, but his shot is blocked and Schmeichel collects.

Lovren feels he was held, and protests vociferously to Anthony Taylor. That earns him a booking for dissent, which seems a bit frivolous on his part.

53 mins

Mahrez and Danny Simpson combine well in Liverpool's final third, but a dangerous cross from the latter is belted away.

Mahrez is always a danger in attack Credit: Plumb Images

51 mins

Ben Chilwell is down receiving treatment after a foul by Joe Gomez. He's back on his feet now, and seems okay.

46 mins

Firmino has the first opportunity of the half, bending a shot on target from an acute angle. Schmeichel saves with relative ease.

The teams are back out

Can Liverpool extend their lead at the King Power? Or will Leicester capitalise on Okazaki's contentious goal?

Update on the Okazaki offside

In the BT Sport studio, Steven Gerrard reckons the offside decision was for Harry Maguire as opposed to Okazaki, and the referee got it “spot on.”

Meanwhile, he thinks Mignolet was definitely fouled by Okazaki ahead of Leicester's goal. Because: of course he does.

Ref! There was definitely a foul on Mignolet, ref! Credit: Geoff Caddick/AFP

Half time

Liverpool go in a goal ahead at the break but Leicester are within striking distance. The second half could be an absolute cracker, so stay tuned.

Okazaki nudges home!

More controversy as Mignolet is potentially obstructed at the corner, but Leicester fans won't care. Pinball in the box sees the ball trickle towards the net, and Okazaki helps it on its way.

1-2, and game on.

Time on ball (first half)

Average touch positions (half time)

GOAL!

Just one goal in it now - Leicester halve the deficit thanks to a goal from Shinji Okazaki.

45+2 mins

Caution for Matip after a silly foul which leaves Mahrez in a promising free-kick position. He finds Vardy in the box, but his glancing header is saved by Mignolet.

45+1 mins

Marc Albrighton curls an excellent cross towards Okazaki, but Mignolet gets to it first - just about!

44 mins

Ndidi causes all sorts of problems for his defence after losing the ball on the edge of the area, but Liverpool overplay it a tad and Leicester manage to clear their lines.

42 mins

Firmino smacks a shot just past the post, leaving Liverpool fans with their hands on their heads.

That could easily have been a third goal for the Reds.

Firmino has gone close for Liverpool Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe

41 mins

Graham Poll says Okazaki was “probably just onside.” Controversy at the King Power!

39 mins

The ball's in the back of the Liverpool net, but Okazaki's effort is ruled out for offside.

Replays appear to show Okazaki was being played on. That will definitely be a talking point at half time.

35 mins

Ben Chilwell pings a perilous low cross into the Liverpool area, but Simon Mignolet gets his hands on the ball before it can find either Shinji Okazaki or Jamie Vardy.

Chilwell has been one of the few bright sparks for Leicester so far Credit: Plumb Images

31 mins

Salah, Coutinho and Firmino are combining well and putting Leicester under sustained pressure.

26 mins

Mahrez wins a free kick 30 yards out, having been fouled by Alberto Moreno. Marc Albrighton's delivery into the box is easily cleared.

What a free kick

Coutinho takes full advantage of the dead-ball situation, sending a beautiful effort sailing past a despairing Schmeichel.

Leicester have a lot to do to get back into this game.

Coutinho shoots - and scores! Credit: John Sibley/Action Images via Reuters

GOAL!

Philippe Coutinho has doubled Liverpool's lead - it's now 0-2.

21 mins

It's a caution for Wilfred Ndidi, as he brings down Alberto Moreno right in front of the Leicester box. Liverpool have a free kick in a great position.

19 mins

Liverpool are dominating possession here and putting it to good use, marauding into the Leicester half over and over again.

Salah puts Liverpool ahead

What a cross from Coutinho!

His curling delivery finds Salah at the back post, and he guides a header past Schmeichel and into the back of the net. 1-0 to the visitors.

Salah celebrates his opener Credit: Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Time on ball (0 - 15 min)

GOAL!

An early opener from Mohamed Salah makes it 0-1 to Liverpool.

12 mins

So close for Liverpool! Emre Can shoots low from 25 yards and his effort ricochets off the upright, falling to the feet of Mohamed Salah.

Salah can only sidefoot the rebound wide from a great position, however. That's a let-off for Leicester.

Liverpool respond

The visitors have their first shot of the game, in reply to two so far from Leicester.

Liverpool enjoying plenty of touches of the ball so far

Liverpool have had 133 touches of the ball compared to 43 by Leicester.

7 mins

Jordan Henderson pumps a dangerous ball into the box, and it's cleared for a corner. Coutinho is on set pieces but his first is straight into the arms of Kasper Schmeichel.

5 mins

First chance of the match! Jamie Vardy gets in behind the Liverpool defence and shoots straight at Simon Mignolet from a tight angle. Mignolet parries it away into the path of Riyad Mahrez, but the Algerian can only fire over.

Leicester are looking threatening on the break, as per usual.

Vardy sees his effort saved Credit: Geoff Caddick/AFP

2 mins

Liverpool produce a flowing passing move which leaves Emre Can in space to the right of the box, but he sees three consecutive crosses blocked.

Hopefully the quality of delivery will improve as the match goes on.

The teams are out

... and saluted by the King Power's plastic clappers. Without getting into a debate about whether or not plastic clappers are a symptom of the malaise at the heart of modern football, time to settle in and enjoy the match.

Coutinho starts for Liverpool

He wasn't at his best on Tuesday, but Coutinho is once again in the starting line-up. Can he win back Liverpool fans' affections with his performance today?

Coutinho arrives at the King Power Credit: Plumb Images

Can Liverpool avenge their midweek defeat?

It's a rematch of the midweek League Cup clash between Leicester and Liverpool in today's late kick-off, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his team can do better than they did on Tuesday night.

The Reds lost 2-0 at the King Power Stadium and crashed out of the cup at the first hurdle, with Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani getting the goals for Craig Shakespeare's side. Liverpool's defence came in for a lot of criticism after the match, with Klopp saying he was “really sick” of conceding soft goals.

The line-ups will be considerably different for their meeting in the Premier League, but Liverpool's defensive shortcomings still loom large over the match. They have already conceded nine goals in the league this season, four more than anyone else in the top ten.

Leicester are similarly leaky in defence, even if their blunders at the back have attracted fewer back-page headlines. It seems highly unlikely this fixture will end up goalless, especially with Jamie Vardy returning for the home side.

Victory for Leicester would put welcome distance between them and the bottom three, with only goal difference keeping them out of the drop zone at the moment. Three points for Liverpool would propel them towards the top four, but anything else could lead to whispers of disillusionment echoing meaningfully around Merseyside.

Can Jurgen Klopp take Liverpool to the top? Credit:  Matthew Ashton/Getty Images Europe

Leicester team news

 

Liverpool team news

 

Match preview

What is it?

It's the second meeting in a week between the Premier League champions of 2015-16 and the 18-time champions of England. On Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup - and yes it still feels strange to type the words Carabao Cup - Leicester hosted Liverpool at the King Power and won 2-0.

Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani scored the second-half goals to give the home side the same margin of victory as their 2015-16 encounter in the Premier League, in the city we all like to refer to as  Ratae Corieltauvorum. Back then it was Jamie Vardy's two goals that sent Liverpool on their way with a 2-0 defeat. Last season Leicester ran out 3-1 winners in Craig Shakespeare's first match in charge. 

When is it?

It's on the weekend of the sixth round of Premier League fixtures, specifically on Saturday, September 23. 

What time is kick-off?

This match between 15th-placed Leicester and eighth-placed Liverpool (at least those were the positions when Saturday came) has been selected for your tea-time treat. It kicks off at the aforementioned King Power Stadium at 5.30pm. 

What TV channel is it on?

The match will be broadcast in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on BT Sport 1. Those of you without access to British Telecom's premier sports channel should join Will Magee right here for our live blog that will inform and entertain. 

What is the team news, who is injured and suspended?

Leicester gave groin-troubled Vardy the night off in the Carabao Cup but he is likely to start on Saturday evening if he passes a fitness test. Two other regular squad members, Christian Fuchs and Leonardo Ulloa, have also been monitored during the week and given the all-clear, though Ben Chilwell may still deputise for the Austria left-back and Ulloa's place on the bench is no longer assured now that Kelechi Iheanacho is match fit, and Slimani and Okazaki made the difference on Tuesday night. 

Vicente Iborra hurt his groin on Tuesday and may have to sit out the rematch, while Matt James is out for the rest of October with an achilles injury. Robert Huth's ankle problem has kept him sidelined since the summer and there has been no date fixed for his return. 

Dejan Lovren is unlikely to make it back to play at centre-half having withdrawn from the last two line-ups with a back injury. He has not been able to train all week and Joel Matip, Jurgen Klopp's other default selection, did not play in the Carabao Cup after sustaining a knock during the draw with Burnley. He is far more likely to make it.

Emre Can played the 90 minutes against Burnley but missed out on the squad for midweek after also suffering some bruising. He is in Saturday's squad and Klopp's plans. The main question, though, is whether he will start Philippe Coutinho and if he does, how long will he give him.

England internationals Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana continue to be long-term absentees, and also missing will be Sadio Mane who is serving the last match of his three-game suspension for the red card he received at the Etihad. 

What are they saying?

Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester City

“I think we can expect a reaction from Liverpool,” the goalkeeper told the Leicester website and LCFC TV. “It was clear to see that their manager wasn’t happy after the game, so he’ll be rallying them up.

“They’ll want a reaction, but we’ve got to not just match that, but outdo that. We have to make sure that Tuesday was a momentum changer for us so that we get back into that winning habit again.

“Liverpool are a top side and if you look at their front line, it’s formidable. It’s very fluid and fast.

Kasper Schmeichel has helped to ensure Liverpool have lost all three games at the King Power under Jurgen Klopp's management Credit: PETER POWELL/EPA

“It’s enjoyable to play against them because you want to be playing against the best and testing yourself all the time against the best.

“We’ve had some really good results against Liverpool, so we’re hoping that can continue.”

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool

“I think both teams will not think too much about this [Carabao Cup] game because there will be different line-ups for sure, on both sides obviously,” said the German.

“Leicester has a typical style of play: Jamie Vardy is a pretty key player for this kind of play and also [Riyad] Mahrez and both were not involved.

“They go for set-pieces: [Christian] Fuchs will be back probably so that means throw-ins are back in the game and all that stuff.”

What does the table look like? 

What are the odds?

  • Leicester 3/1
  • Liverpool 10/11
  • Draw 5/2

What's our prediction?

Although both sides will make changes from Tuesday's line-ups which make that game largely irrelevant, Leicester were superb in their last two home league meetings with Liverpool and we think they can make it four in a row against Klopp's Reds. Leicester 2-1 Liverpool.

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