Defending champions Liverpool host the early pace-setters Leicester City tonight in what bodes to be an enthralling top of the table clash.
Leicester can go top with a win at here tonight, whereas Liverpool will move up to second behind Tottenham only on goal difference. Liverpool won both fixtures last season but with their injury struggles Jamie Vardy, who has been firing on all cylinders this season, will be licking his lips at this make-shift Liverpool defence.
Stanley Challenor will be taking you through the action as it happens.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be feeling somewhat uplifted with Andy Robertson being fit and in the starting 11, along with Fabinho both of which were doubtful for this fixture.
Mohammed Salah misses out for the reds after testing positive for corona virus while playing for Egypt but they still boast a frightening front three with Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino all starting.
Brendan Rodgers’ side has struggled with injuries themselves but they’ll be delighted to see captain Kasper Schmeichel in the starting line-up after he suffered a suspected concussion representing Denmark during the international break.
Leicester have been excellent away from home this season wining 100% of their games and are having best start ever in the top division, even better than when they won the title under Claudio Ranieri. While Liverpool are looking to go 64 games undefeated at home which will eclipse their all-time unbeaten record at Anfield.
The Liverpool honoured the club and England great Ray Clemence tonight after the ex-Liverpool goalkeeper tragically passed away last week.
Both teams will applaud for a minute to commemorate the Liverpool great, as they display a heart-warming tribute video from the stadiums big screen.
1′ Leicester gets things underway here going from left to right on your screens.
2′ Electric start for Liverpool, a penetrating run down the right from Jota in behind Christian Fuchs his cross travels too the edge of the box where Naby Keita’s shot is blocked and goes out for a corner.
3′ Big chance from the corner for Mane, it’s a free header at the near post but he can’t quite direct it goal-wards, and it hits the side netting.
9′ Superbly worked by Liverpool again down the left hand side, it falls to Curtis Jones who fires the ball at the goal but is denied by the leg of Schmeichel and it goes out for a corner.
10′ Liverpool have looked much the better side as expected really pining Leicester back into their own half.
Embed from Getty Images13′ Another chance for Liverpool, neat play by Firmino to get the ball into Jota centrally on the edge of the box who fakes the pass to Mane, who strays offside and strikes the ball well but it’s straight at Schmeichel who parries clear. Really vibrant start from Liverpool.
16′ Leicester are looking bright in spots, but they aren’t having enough possession in dangerous areas to worry Liverpool.
18′ James Justin and Fuchs are having a lot of issues dealing with Jota. Another ball into the box from that left-hand side, ends in a miscued volley from the edge of the box by Robertson that goes out for a goal kick. Fuchs is left limping after that play. Leicester will be crossing their fingers he isn’t added to their lengthy injury list.
21′ Own Goal Jonny Evans Liverpool 1-0 Leicester City
Just like that champions are in front, it was a simple corner and Evans who was more worried about the man he was marking and the ball ricochets off his head past Schmeichel. Very soft goal to concede, Rodgers will be furious with falling behind to a goal like that.
23′ Wonderful response from Leicester and they should have equalised. Wesley Fofana beats numerous midfielders plays the ball to Harvey Barnes who slips Vardy in down the left, returns the ball back to Barnes who can’t direct the ball goalward.
26′ Well corners seemed to be the most dangerous point of entry for Liverpool another vicious ball whipped in met by Firmino but he can’t hit the target and it flys over the bar.
31′ Fofana has been excellent for Leicester so far dealing with everything really well, but he’s beat by a reverse pass to play in Mane who is fouled by Evans as he goes over to cover.
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33′ Liverpool look like scoring from every set-piece they put the into the Leicester area. This time its a ball to Joel Matip at the back post, he heads it back across goal and it narrowly misses Firmino’s outstretched boot.
34′ Back the other way now Justin finds himself unusually with the ball in an attacking area he cuts inside and looks to bend the ball into the far corner but just doesn’t get enough bend on the ball and it goes just wide.
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38′ Chance for Liverpool now, it’s a clever ball in behind from James Milner to Mane chased closely by Fofana, he cuts inside but his shot has all of the sting out of it and the ball falls softly to the keeper.
41′ Goal Jota Liverpool 2-0 Leicester City
Robertson beats Marc Albrighton too easily on the left hand side whips an excellent ball in and Jota comes flying across, nips in front of Evans and flicks the ball into the bottom corner.
45′ Justin is shown the first yellow card of the night for a challenge on Milner.
Half-time
A dominant display by the home side in the first half and they are deserving in their two goal advantage. Rodgers will need to change things up tatically as going route one is not working against this Liverpool side, hopefully we will see a more evenly contested second half.
Klopp will be hoping for much of the same his front three have given Leicester’s back line an unholy amount of issues with their diagonal runs into the area.
46′ Liverpool restart proceedings as they look to put Leicester too the sword in this second half.
46′ Just 45 seconds into this half and Liverpool are already causing problems, an excellent switch of play out too Robertson he puts a dangerous driven ball across the box that just can’t be converted by Jota.
48′ The first time tonight Leicester have attempted to play through the midfield, the break the first press with some slick passing the ball comes to James Maddison around the half way line. He slots Barnes through he has too reluctantly shot on his unfavoured left and its straight at Alisson. Quite clearly a change in approach by Rodgers in the second half.
51′ Worrying signs here for the home side, as Keita goes down holding his hamstring.
Embed from Getty Images53′ Neco Williams is coming on for Keita.
54′ Chance for Mane played clean through fisrt time by Milner but Mane can’t quite get his body position right and he shoots straight at Schmeichel and Fuchs clears the ball for a corner.
57′ How did that not go in. Jota somehow manages to get his shot away after he receives the ball from Jones. The shot is saved initially, Evans then heads the ball against his own post and Fuchs finally clears. Unbelievably, it is still 2-0.
Embed from Getty Images61′ After the first decent patch of possession for Leicester they win a free kick around 35 yards out. The ball is clipped in to Vardy, completely unmarked, but he just can’t gather it and the ball is eventually cleared.
62′ Two changes for Leicester Cengiz Under and Dennis Praet are on for Barnes and Fuchs as it looks like Leicester will also change shape going to a back four.
65′ A little late from Namplys Mendy on Georgino Wijnaldum and is subsequently booked.
68′ Leicester are enjoying a lot more of the ball now, especially Maddison, as he wins another free kick in a dangerous area, but it comes too nothing.
72′ Lovely weaving run by Jota into the box but he drags his shot wide as he clatters into the incoming Fofana. Liverpool protest for a penalty but the VAR check agrees with the referee and a goal kick is given.
Embed from Getty Images77′ Speechless. How on earth have Liverpool not scored. Firmino hits the post after beating Fofana, the ball then ricochets to Mane his shot is saved, hits the post and is then cleared off the line. It only seems a matter of time before Liverpool get a third.
Embed from Getty Images83′ It just doesn’t seem like Mane’s day although he’s had the beating of Fofana whenever he wants tonight. He receives the ball from Jota after a mazing run but he just can’t beat Schmeichel again and Leicester scramble the ball clear.
86′ Goal Firmino Liverpool 3-0 Leicester City
Surely that’s the three points for Liverpool now. It’s another corner that Leicester’s zonal marking cannot deal with. Firmino rises up completely unmarked and powers the ball excellently into the corner with his head.
89′ Multiple changes for Liverpool as they bring on Takumi Minamino Divok Origi for Mane and the goal scorer Jota.
Embed from Getty ImagesFull time
Liverpool go joint top of the Premier league with that excellent performance and were fully deserving of all three points. They defended superbly despite being without their two first-choice centre back pairing, giving Leicester little to no opportunities in either half.
Rodgers’ side will be disappointed how little service Vardy received throughout out the contest, but all in all the better side were deservingly victorious.
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