Liverpool stay top with win at Leicester despite Alisson howler

Liverpool survived a strong Leicester City fight-back to stay top of the Premier League after their fourth win from four games at the start of the season, but it was a game of two very distinct halves.

Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals by Sadio Mane and Roberto Firminho, and totally dominated play with sharp passing.

Try as they might, Leicester couldn’t break through the visitor’s defence with the best chance going to Demarai Gray, saved well by £67 million keeper, Alisson.

But a reinvigorated Leicester came back in the second half, pressing Liverpool and giving them little opportunity to further their lead.

Liverpool looked significantly weaker in the second half, and it was Rachid Ghezzal who was able to capitalise on that, and a howler by Alisson leaving an open goal.

Leicester were by far the better team in the second half, and were unlucky to leave with no points as the visitors held on and stay top after a perfect start to the campaign.

10’ GOAL! There it is, Mane scores from a cross by Robertson into the box.

45’ GOAL! On the stroke of halftime the corner comes in and Roberto Firminho gets his head to it.

63’ GOAL! Moments after a yellow card, Ghezzal redeems himself with a goal from close range in front of an open goal. Where was Alisson? The score is 2-1.

Liverpool remain top of the table with an impressive start to the season, at least in terms of results, but a distinctly average second half exposed frailties. Errors by Virgil van Dijk and Alisson saw the team concede their first goal of the season with the former looking less than his usual cool, calm self, and despite a fast and furious start to the match the team retreated spectacularly.

The 21-year-old picked a good day to be on form as England manager Gareth Southgate looked on. Gomez weathered the storm of Leicester's renewed efforts in the second half, and made a particularly fine challenge on James Maddison to deny him a goal in the early part of the second half.

Leicester: Schmeichel 6, Ricardo Pereira 6, Morgan 6, Maguire 6, Chilwell 7, Mendy 6, Ndidi, Ghezzal 7, Maddison 8, Albrighton 7, Gray 7. Subs: Iheanacho 7, Ward, Amartey 6, Ozkazaki 6.

Liverpool: Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 7, Gomez 7, van Dijk 6, Robertson 6, Wijnaldum 6, Henderson 6, Milner, Salah 6, Roberto Firmino 7, Mane 7. Subs: Keita 7, Shaqiri 7.

Liverpool have not won their opening four league matches since 1990.