Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana star as Liverpool thrash Leicester
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Updated 10/09/2016 at 19:03 GMT
Premier League, Anfield - Liverpool 4 (Firmino 13, 89, Mane 31, Lallana 56) Leicester City 1 (Vardy, 38)
Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Leicester
Image credit: Reuters
Adam Lallana scored a sensational goal while Roberto Firmino bagged a brace as Liverpool hammered Leicester City 4-1 at home.
After a nervy opening, Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated the first half and took the lead through Firmino.
In the first game in front of the new main stand, the Reds’ passing and pressing game was too much for the Foxes to handle and they doubled the lead when Daniel Sturridge’s outrageous flick found Sadio Mane to make it 2-0.
But Claudio Ranieri’s side found themselves back in the game after a huge blunder by Lucas Leiva who mis-controlled the ball in his box before sliding the ball straight to Jamie Vardy for a tap in.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Liverpool dominating possession. And they stretched their lead courtesy of a stunning swerving strike from Lallana before Firmino sealed the rout late on to hand the Premier League champions their second defeat of the season.
TALKING POINT
What’s happened to Leicester? In two words, N'Golo Kante. The Foxes missed the Frenchman’s energy and tackling in the middle of the park. With little support from Danny Drinkwater and Daniel Amartey, Liverpool split their defence open with ease particularly in the second half. The defensive solidity that Leicester showed last season was not evident at Anfield.
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Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Adam Lallana (Liverpool): The playmaker’s movement stretched Leicester’s defence on numerous occasions and he linked up well with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. And he is sure to steal the headlines with a sensational curling strike to cap off a dream week having scored England’s late winner against Slovakia last weekend.
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Liverpool's Adam Lallana celebrates scoring their third goal
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PLAYER RATINGS
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 6, Clyne 7, Matip 6, Lucas 4, Milner 6, Wijnaldum 5, Henderson 5, Lallana 8, Mane 8, Firmino 8, Sturridge 6. Subs: Coutinho 5, Stewart 5.
LEICESTER: Schmeichel 6, Simpson 5, Huth 6, Morgan 5, Fuchs 5, Mahrez 5, Drinkwater 5, Amartey 5, Albrighton 5, Okazaki 5, Vardy 7. Subs: Hernández 6, Ulloa 5.
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Liverpool's Senegalese midfielder Sadio Mane celebrates with Liverpool's English midfielder Adam Lallana (up) after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield in Liverpool, no
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
13’ - GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Leicester: Milner slides a brilliant ball into the path of Firmino who cuts inside Huth and fires the ball into the net from inside the area.
26’ - GREAT SAVE! Schmeichel keeps out Sturridge's shot from close range after Mane's cut back. The England striker really should have scored from there.
31’ - GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Leicester: Lucas's ball finds Sturridge who pulls off a deft flick into the path of Mane who lofts the ball over Schemeichel from close range.
38’ – GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Leicester: Vardy taps it into an empty net after a howler by Lucas who toe-poked the ball straight to the striker six yards out.
41’ - WOODWORK! Huth hits the top of the bar after Mignolet races off his line, fails to punch the ball clear and is left in no-man's land.
56’ – GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Leicester: Wijinaldum tees up Lallana inside the area who smashes the ball into the top corner with the outside of his foot. A fantastic curling effort.
86’ - GOOD SAVE! Firmino does well to find Mane in the box, he takes a touch before sliding in with a shot that Schmeichel does well to beat away.
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Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Image credit: Reuters
89’ - GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Liverpool: Leicester have a corner which is cleared away. The Reds break with Henderson finding Mane. Schmeichel races off his line but is caught in no-man’s land, he squares it to Firmino who fires the ball into an empty net.
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Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Liverpool have won more games against reigning Premier League champions than any other side has (20).
This is the 14th time that a reigning Premier League champion has conceded 4+ goals in a single match.
Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals in 2016 than any other team (50).
Sadio Mane has scored eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances.
Jamie Vardy has found the net three times in his last two Premier League games against Liverpool.
Vardy has bagged seven goals in his last eight Premier League matches.
Since the start of last season Roberto Firmino has netted more PL goals than any other Liverpool player (12).
After winning three league games in a row at Anfield between 1997 and 2000, Leicester have failed to win any of their last six there (D1 L5).
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