Leicester City vs Liverpool: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis, Premier League 2018/19

#4 Leicester get it wrong without Jamie Vardy

Kelechi Iheanacho made a difference for the Foxes after he came on

In the absence of the suspended Jamie Vardy, Claude Puel got things all wrong at the start of the game. Kelechi Iheanacho was an obvious replacement for Vardy up front, given his power and ability to run in behind the Liverpool defence.

But Puel went with Demarai Gray in the central position, with James Maddison behind him. Gray is the kind of player who likes to come short to receive the ball and run with it, but those weren't the attributes Leicester needed from their lone striker.

Gray made only one run in behind the Liverpool defenders, and he managed to get a shot away, only to see it saved by Alisson. Given that he saw success while running in behind, it was puzzling that Gray didn't do it more often.

Iheanacho came on early in the second half to replace Marc Albrighton and immediately made an impact. He gave Van Dijk and Joe Gomez much more work to do at the back.

It was from the Nigerian's pressing that Leicester got themselves the goal too. But in the end, it wasn't enough, as the Reds did just enough to hold on.

Puel might just be thinking what would have been had he started with the Nigerian striker and played Gray on the left wing, where he is at his best.