Blog by David Douglas (dedlfc)
Pre-match: We were finally due to play our first
home game of the season in front of the new main stand finally been completed
with an extra 8,000 LFC fans able to now cheer on our team.
With Lovren out with a head
injury and replaced by versatile defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva and our main
attacking midfielder Coutinho arriving back late from international duty with
Brazil his place was taken by the gifted Sturridge chosen ahead of Origi.
So we were playing the league
champions Leicester City with two midfielders Lucas at centre back and Milner
at left back, respectively.
That’s why trying to send Sakho
out on loan didn’t make practical sense to me as he could have filled in for
either Matip or Lovren.
Once the game started the extra
bodies in the Main Stand made the atmosphere more intense for Leicester who
despite this started the game on the front foot with our defence conceding
early corners and looking vulnerable as we tried to pass the ball out from the
back.
Leicester failed to take
advantage of their fast start and we took control of the game with sharp
interplay and intelligent movement.
We went ahead after 13 minutes
through Milner’s excellent pass which found Firmino, utilising the space
created by Sturridge equally clever run dragging Wes Morgan away into the left channel.
It took ooe touch to control, shimmy past Huth for Firmino to calmly stroke the
ball home. It was made it look
ridiculously easy.
Sturridge should have scored to
make it 2-0 when Mane's delightful link with Lallana left him free six yards
out, only for Schmeichel saved to from Sturridge’s right foot.
It was only a temporary
reprieve for Leicester, as Henderson's fine pass freed Sturridge and his
brilliantly intuitive back heel allowed Mane to loft over the keeper.
At two-nil and in complete
control we proceeded to throw away our lead with an inexcusable piece of
defending by Lucas Leiva and our keeper Simon Mignolet.
Mignolet has an extremely bad
habit of passing to his players when they are being closed down by opposition
and getting away with it – this time Lucas was closed down lost control of the
ball and laid an easy finish on for Vardy to stroke home to make it 2-1. That being said, it was an awful mistake from
Lucas.
What a way to deflate a stadium
packed to the brim!
Half-time: In a dominant first half performance we
led by a goal but have again avoided a clean sheet and put ourselves under
undeserved pressure through our own stupidity.
Sturridge, in particular, made
an excellent case for himself up front and probably deserved a goal in the
first half from his intelligent movement and tireless running for the team – if
only he had the finishing skills in his right foot. Sadio Mané is the heartbeat
of our attack and we need to ensure we can keep him fit for as much of the
season as possible.
I would prefer it if we had
centre backs playing as centre backs rather than midfielders playing there as
we require continuity. The square pegs in round holes philosophy is
destabilising the defence.
After the disappointing end to
the first half Leicester started the second half with some dangerous possession
in our half with midfielder Wijnaldum in particular getting caught out which
almost lead to an equaliser with a Huth header hitting the top of the bar from
one ball swung into our box– we really need to cut out these self-inflicted
mistakes!!!
Lallana, confidence peakiing
through starting the season well for us then thumped home a rocket for our
all-important third goal. This time the
much maligned Wijnaldum provided the assist after further good work by
Sturridge whose deflected pass ran through to Wijnaldum who found Lallana to
smash a searing strike home – hopefully it means he is adding regular goals to
his fantastic unselfish running and technical adept play.
At three-one Huth and Mignolet
have a head clash but fair play to an injured and bloodied nose Mignolet, he proceeded
to make a fantastic save to deny Vardy, clear in on goal.
The frontline of Sturridge,
Firmino, and Mané looked fantastic, and that’s without our best midfielder Can
and without Coutinho for most of the game.
Can this exciting LFC team
compete at the top end – Most definitely if they cut out the silly mistakes!!!
With a couple of minutes left
of the game a great ball over the top by impressive captain Henderson found
Mane clear with Leicester keeper Schmeichel running so far out of his goal you
would have thought he was a Leicester midfielder!!! – Mane slipped past him and
calmly passed to Firmino who adjusts his feet and tapped home for number 4
beating two desperate defenders scrambling back to their own goal– brilliant
attacking play by Mane and Firmino!!!
Final whistle: Aside from Mignolet and Lucas’s crazy
double act for the Leicester goal it was a thoroughly convincing win to start
our home campaign in front of our new Main stand, going forward we look a
constant threat and we took the current champions to the cleaners today. As Ice
Cube said in 1993 “It was a good day”
Man of the match – Adam Lallana
It now looks like Lallana has
found his position in our new look midfield where he can influence and quietly
provide a source of energy and verve for the team – he provides a solid
platform for quick exchanges to assist breaking through Leicester’s normally
solid and stubborn defence. Adding goals to his game enhances his role in the
side.
Special mentions
Jordan Henderson – our captain in the last two games –
Spurs and now Leicester has shown that he is slowly adjusting to the defensive
midfielder role with an impressive disciplined display showing awareness in
noticing danger and some beautiful long range passing to set up attacking
moves.
Daniel Sturridge – playing as the central attacking
focal point had a fantastic first half and should have capped off his excellent
all round display with two goals and gave the manager selection problems now
for Friday vs Chelsea as he showed the required desire needed to warrant a
place in the starting line-up.
Lucas – had a nightmare first half capped
with his major mistake – the unwanted assist for Vardy’s goal for Leicester –
he could have lost his confidence and had a nightmare second half but recovered
exceptionally well and along with Matip was solid throughout the second half –
both players covering several positions along the back line along with
Henderson.
Firmino – played in a slightly different role
normally reserved for Coutinho on the left hand side of the attacking midfield
position but used all his trickery, skill and constant harrying to good use and
came away with a further two goals.
Roll on to Friday evening lets
now test Chelsea's resolve and see if we can cause maximum damage to their
defence.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas,
Milner, Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum (Stewart 76mins), Mane, Firmino,
Sturridge (Coutinho 76mins)
Subs not used: Karius, Grujic,
Klavan, Moreno, Origi
Booked: Henderson
Scorers: Firmino 13, 89, Mane
31, Lallana 56
LEICESTER
CITY (4-3-1-2):
Schmeichel, Simpson (Hernandez 33mins), Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater,
Amartey, Albrighton (Ulloa 65mins), Mahrez, Okazaki (Musa 46mins), Vardy
Subs not used: Ziegler,
Chilwell, King, Gray
Booked: Huth, Amartey
Scorers: Vardy 38
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 53,075 (Biggest crowd since 1977)
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