EPL 2017-18: Leicester City 2-3 Liverpool - 5 Talking Points

Liverpool returned to the King Power stadium just days after being demolished by the Foxes in the League Cup and it was largely believed that Jurgen Klopp’s men were baying for revenge, especially with the likes of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah returning to the starting line-up.

It was Liverpool, who started the proceedings in the 15th minute when Mohamed Salah scored via a header from a difficult angle and when Phillipe Coutinho curled on over the Leicester wall and in the back of the net, many thought Liverpool were going to run away with the game.

However, Leicester were in no mood to give up and goals from Shinji Okazaki and Jamie Vardy on either side of a Jordan Henderson goal gave the home fans something to cheer about. However, the Leicester fans night ended on a sour note after Jamie Vardy failed to convert the penalty that came his way after being fouled by Simon Mignolet, thus handing the visitors their 3rd league win of the season.

Here are the 5 talking points from the game between the 2 sides.

#1. It’s time to forget Philippe Coutinho’s antics in the transfer market

It's time Liverpool fans forgive Coutinho for his antics in the transfer window

Before you Liverpool fans have a meltdown, please hear us out. We are aware that Coutinho did not behave in a mature manner during the transfer window as he sought a move away from Anfield. However, what must be noted and admired is the professional way that he has handled himself in after being reintegrated into the side by Jurgen Klopp.

The Brazilian magician will perhaps yet again try to force through a move to Barcelona in the winter transfer window but whilst he remains a Liverpool player, he needs to be adored, especially because he has grown from being another talented player who failed to make the cut at Inter to a player who can change a game on its head, a trait this side desperately needs in the current times of crisis.

Against Leicester, it was the Coutinho we all loved. He put his head down, worked really hard on and off the ball and when he got the opportunity to inflict some damage on the hosts, he ensured that he did so with aplomb. It was Coutinho who created Liverpool’s opening goal in the 15th minute when he floated in a perfect cross for Mohamed Salah to head home at the far post and then doubled Liverpool’s lead with a freekick in the 23rd minute that bamboozled Kasper Schmeichel, albeit with the help of a faint touch from the Leicester wall.

Liverpool will continue to concede goals, let us not dilly dally on that fact and what they need is an attack that outscores their opponents and a potent Coutinho is perhaps the right man to be at the centre of their attack.

#2. Riyad Mahrez went missing and that might be an issue for Craig Shakespeare

Mahrez needs to improve on his performances if he wishes to remain a Leicester starter for the remainder of the season

It was a game in which the Liverpool defence managed to complete the improbable task of making the likes of Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray look like the Messi-s and Suarez-es of the footballing world. The defence was all over the place and every Leicester attack had the Liverpool fans’ heartbeat racing.

Yet, in a game that had a lot of attacking flair, one player, in particular, refused to turn up-Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian international was kept silent by the likes of Jordan Henderson and Can for large durations of the 61 minutes that he spent on the pitch and failed to contribute to his side’s attack, especially against a side as defensively frail as Liverpool and that might be a worrying sign of things to come for Shakespeare.

The 26-year-old who has been nicknamed Tom Hanks after being stranded at the airport on the deadline as he sought a move away from the King Power Stadium has failed to score in 6 League appearances this season. While he assisted a goal apiece in the games against Arsenal and Brighton, he has subsequently gone silent.

Currently, the Foxes sit in the 16th spot with 4 points and for them to really ensure that they do not get entangled in a prolonged relegation battle, Mahrez will need to up the ante in the games to come.

#3. Mohamed Salah at £35 million is an absolute steal but there are areas in which he still needs to improve

Mohamed Salah needs to improve on his finishing to ensure he is counted amongst the world's best.

There were a few football fans who were not very happy when Liverpool splashed the cash on Salah. The Egyptian had been in a phenomenal form for AS Roma but a failed stint at Chelsea was believed to be the reason that Salah remained a speculative buy. However, Salah has proven his doubters wrong in a matter of a few games and has established himself as one of the most important players under Jurgen Klopp this season.

Before the game, Salah had already bagged 4 goals and an assist in 6 games across all competitions and he added to that tally with a goal against the Foxes. While he might not have been able to add to that tally on the evening, he was a constant threat to the Leicester side with his pace, skill as well as a deadly left foot.

However, make no mistake, he is not a world class player yet. He has been found guilty of missing easy chances time and again this season and that might perhaps be the biggest weakness in his game. He missed a simple opportunity 2 minutes before scoring the opening goal against Leicester after an Emre Can shot had bounced off the upright into his path and while Liverpool managed to eke out the all-important 3 points, these missed chances have proven costly for the Reds in the past and could come back to haunt the side yet again if Salah does not improve.

#4. The loss puts Craig Shakespeare in a tight spot

He might be enjoying his stint right now but that could change very quickly given Leicester poor league form

The King Power stadium is an absolute beauty to behold when in action. Though not the most aesthetically well-designed stadium, the stadium is a real fortress for Leicester, especially with their fans constantly egging the players on the pitch to outperform the opposition. Despite having fallen 2 goals behind Liverpool in the game just days after demolishing the side, Leicester fans were in no mood to give up and made their presence felt through the game.

However, while the mood in the stadium might be positive, one man must surely be worried about the things to come and that has to be the Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare. After a fairly successful last season in which he helped his side tide over the storm created by the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, Shakespeare was expected to ensure that his side improved on their last season’s 12th place finish.

But things have not gone as per plan for the Englishman who failed to replace a departing Danny Drinkwater as the transfer window shut before they could complete the signing of Adrien Silva.

In what has been an undeniable pattern in the current season, Leicester have their defence to blame for the position they are in. With the side lacking a central midfielder of real bite, their defence has been exposed on numerous occasions and it comes as no surprise that the Foxes have conceded 12 goals and the weakest defence in the league behind Crystal Palace and West Ham, who have both conceded 13 goals apiece.

It is perhaps time for Shakespeare to tweak his formation so as to bring out the best amongst his existing resources, especially in the centre of the park, or he could find his neck on the line sooner that one might expect.

#5. Simon Mignolet saves Liverpool the blushes

Mignolet has saved 7 out of the 15penalties that he has faced since joining Liverpool

Simon Mignolet has come under immense criticism over the last couple of years and deservedly so. The goalkeeper is not vocal enough, is threatened easily with a cross in the box and has a poor range of distribution amongst a host of other minor albeit consequential flaws. However, if there is one thing that Mignolet is perhaps the best at in the league at the moment, it has to be saving penalties.

Leicester had already cut their deficit of 2 goals down to 1 twice and the scoreline read 3-2 when Mignolet looked to have brought Vardy down in the box. The Liverpool defence, which has been the perfect metaphor for hapless amongst footballing discussions, was all over the place as they failed to deal with the threat of Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy and it was believed that it was a deserved moment in the game, especially with Liverpool’s defensive fallacies.

The King Power stadium was buzzing with excitement and it was believed that Vardy would hand the hosts an improbable comeback before Mignolet made the vital save to deny the Englishman from the spot.

Yes, he remains a player that Liverpool can improve upon. But given the fact that Lloris Karius appears more eccentric than the Belgian and Dany Ward has only been with the senior side for a short while, Mignolet is Liverpool’s best option and it is time that the Reds, who have given him a lot of stick over the years give him due credit for getting the side out of the precarious situation at times.