Late winner for Liverpool! By Simon Mack

Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City

5^th October 2019 15:00 Anfield

Attendance:

James Milner snatched all 3 points for Liverpool as his 95^th minute penalty sent foxes skipper Kasper Schmeichel diving the wrong way and Leicester heading home empty handed.

It was a game as a city fan that the late late spot kick winner left you feeling completely robbed. It was always going to be one of the trickiest away appointments for the foxes this season, and to return with a point would have been an admirable, spirited and deserved achievement given the way the match had evolved.

The initial exchanges saw the home side come out of the traps hard and fast looking for the early advantage. Trent Alexander Arnold repeatedly punished foxes left back Ben Chilwell as his relentless charge looked like it could lead to a chance for the reds to gain the lead.  Eventually right down by the corner flag he nut megged the foxes England left back and drifted in a ball to an unmarked James Milner who fortunately blazed over the bar.

Alexander Arnold continued his forays deep into city territory and a looping cross that found Firminho this time deep to the left of Leicester’s box, but he squirmed his effort wide and the visitors were doing all they could to keep the European Champions at bay.

It was Alexander Arnold then that turned villain when Youri Tielemans had the ball to the left of the Liverpool box next the by line and as he tried to shield the ball from it’s suitor Arnold made a challenge that saw his studs impact on Tieleman’s Achillies. The Belgian international rolled around off the pitch in agony, and with what was to come later in the match Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would do well to remember his talented young right back’s fortunate escape from punishment.

Sooner after reds captain James Milner played a long and low curling ball forward that fell perfectly into the path of Sadio Mane, and the Liverpool attacker drove into the box and put the ball into the far corner across a helpless Kasper Schmeichel to take the lead. It was his 100^th game and his 50^th Premier League goal and the Liverpool fans erupted in jubilation. To that point it had been largely the home side that had been the most creative, but city had had a couple of spells and the game was certainly not all one way traffic and there was a relief amongst the home supporters to see their side edge in front.

At half time city boss Brendan Rodgers took Harvey Barnes off and replaced him with Marc Albrighton, and almost immediately the reds came close to doubling their lead with only Schmeichel preventing them with a superb save from Egyptian super star Mo Salah.

As the 2^nd half matured the visitors warmed to their task. Post match Klopp said his side tired, but for me it was the Foxes own endeavour that saw them grow into the match. Perez came on for Dennis Praet and fought hard to get himself into a great position just outside of the box. His clever pass to James Maddison put the foxes star clean on goal and he superbly put the ball between Liverpool Keeper Adrian’s legs to level the score.

With 10 minutes left it looked like Rodger’s clever tactical thinking and superb preparation of his team for their mammoth task had paid off. The foxes were mixing it, and you’d not have put it past them to go and get a winner. Cruelly late late on Marc Albrighton on defensive duties picked the ball up and pushed it too far in front of himself in the box. Mane managed to gain the ball and Albrighton’s subsequent attempt to regain it saw Mane hit the floor and a penalty was given. VAR reviewed the decision but it was one of those marginal ones that would have stood with the on field referee whatever he had decided, Milner sent Schmeichel the wrong way and the points belonged to Liverpool.

The only other incident to report? Hamza Choudhury a late sub received a yellow card for his challenge on Mo Salah. Salah had to leave the field of play hobbling after the tackle and reds gaffer Jurgen Klopp spent almost all of his media air time after the match expressing his disgust at both the challenge and the fact it wasn’t a red card. Mo Salah had roared down the right flank on the break in the 91^st minute after a foxes attack had petered out. He’d got around Caglar Soyunchu and was box bound when Hamza Choudhury made a tackle from behind which sent the Egyptian super star tumbling forwards to the ground. Yellow card was the on field decision and seemed fair to me, but the Liverpool boss was fuming at both the tackle and the resultant injury to his talisman, and the Hamza Choudhury tackle saga is set to gain fuel to its fire from this further incident.

For me I was kicking the cat for a good couple of hours after the final whistle as I felt city were more than worthy of a point. You could point a finger at Albrighton for both his poor touch and then risky tackle in his own box, but for me that would be harsh. The foxes gave an honest and genuine account of themselves on the day which is to be admired, and they demonstrated that even in the face of Europe’s most tricky away day destination they could still compete, hustle and so very nearly gain something from the match.

Simon’s Player Ratings:

Schmeichel: 7.5 Much more involved as you would expect going away to the perfect record league leaders. Thought he was superb, brave and some of his point blank stops of the highest quality.

Chilwell: 6.5 Had on toast by Alexander Arnold in the early part of the match he kept getting forward and kept trying.

Evans: 7 Passionate and dedicated in his efforts. Seem to revel in the big occasion.

Soyunchu: 7 Worked hard as always and made a couple of errors but never stopped and his commitment is second to none.

Ricardo: 7.5 The pick of the defenders for me in what was a rough and tumble afternoon. Bright, intelligent and skilful on the ball, dedicated in defence.

Ndidi: 8 (MOTM) My man of the match. Booked in the first half Wilfred’s engine today was outstanding and his impact with interceptions and support when the foxes attacked was outstanding.

Praet: 6.5 Not quite the same levels from him today. It was a high tempo thunderous match and I didn’t see enough key play from the lad today.

Tielemans: 7 Still wasteful at times but keeps trying and isn’t afraid to do his fair share of the ugly stuff. When it clicks in for him the foxes will go up another gear.

Barnes: 6.5 Taken off at half time in a tactical move not a massive amount to report from Harvey today.

Maddison: 7.75 Back into the side and brilliant. Cool finish and clever intricate creative play. For talent only one other player on the park to rival him in this one.

Vardy: 7 Had a chance that he tried to get onto his right and was tackled in the process. Worked hard as always but was largely a lone forward figure as the game largely played out behind him.

Albrighton: 6 On at half time and showed flashes of skill with some crosses and inter play. Unfortunately gave the match winning late late penalty away with a debateable challenge deep into his own box.

Perez: 7 Was bright when he came on. Set up the goal and had a massive row post match with Liverpool’s Robertson.

Choudhury n/a The tackle… that tackle will be the thing to come from this game for Choudhury.