Match report: Liverpool beaten by Leicester City
Liverpool resumed their Premier League campaign with defeat as they were beaten 3-1 by Leicester City on Monday evening.
After an even start to the contest, Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater netted for the managerless Foxes to carve out a convincing half-time lead.
And, after Vardy had added to his tally in the second period, Philippe Coutinho could only bag a consolation for Jürgen Klopp's team, who could have few complaints about the result.
The key points...
- Vardy and Drinkwater give hosts a half-time lead
- Foxes add to their advantage through Vardy
- Coutinho strikes back as Reds lose out
The team news...
With Jordan Henderson sidelined through a foot injury, Klopp made just one enforced change to his line-up, with Emre Can replacing the captain.
Leicester, meanwhile, opted to stick with the XI that suffered a narrow defeat to Sevilla in the Champions League last week.
The first half...
The hosts started much the brighter, with Robert Huth and Shinji Okazaki calling Simon Mignolet into action with headed efforts inside the first six minutes.
The Reds responded, though, with a slick exchange at the edge of the Foxes area forcing Wes Morgan to make a desperate sliding clearance from Sadio Mane's low cross.
That chance offered a platform for the visitors to build on, and they began to dominate possession as the search for the first goal began in earnest.
But, as was the hallmark of their title win last season, Leicester retained a threat on the break, and they were almost ahead when a simple long ball over the top offered Vardy the chance to poke just wide.
Unfortunately, when Liverpool gave up a second opportunity to get in behind their defence after 27 minutes, the England striker was less generous, finishing ruthlessly from Marc Albrighton's first-time pass.
And the Reds' night went from bad to worse before the break, as Drinkwater produced a brilliant volley that left Mignolet standing and nestled in the corner to double the hosts' lead.
The second half...
In an effort to turn the tide, Klopp opted to switch to a 3-5-2 at the break, and the change in formation brought around a change in fortunes, if not the scoreline.
But the visitors could only create half-chances as a result of their new-found dominance and, with an hour gone, the Foxes once again showed the finishing touch that had eluded their opponents.
Riyad Mahrez twisted and turned to make space on the left before teeing up Christian Fuchs to swing in a cross for Vardy to flick home with his head and make the game safe.
To their credit, Liverpool did not let heads hang in the aftermath of the goal, and got one back through Coutinho's low finish after a fine Can dribble.
But that strike proved too little too late as the champions held out with little trouble to seal the win.
The stats...