Liverpool won 1-0 at Anfield against league leaders Leicester City on Boxing Day. Belgian international Christian Benteke scored a second-half winner to earn his team a league win after three games. Leicester City would be disappointed not to score for the first time this season.
Liverpool move up to 8th position in the league with just 5 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspurs while Leicester City remain at the top of the table courtesy Arsenal 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Southampton last night.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
No nervous moments for the Belgian goalkeeper today. Mignolet made two brilliant saves to perform his job very well and wasn’t tested much by the Leicester City attack. He also did well to collect a few crosses inside the penalty box.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10
The England international put in a solid display today and came on top against Riyad Mahrez in the first half with his pace. He also made few good attacking runs to provide his team width in the attack.
Dejan Lovren – 9/10
Confidence can do wonders to anyone, and that’s the case with Dejan Lovren. He seems to be a different player under new boss Jurgen Klopp, and today once again came up with a solid performance. He was strong aerially and also made few good tackles.
Mamadou Sakho – 7/10
Looked nervous for a couple of moments in the first half, but had a good game. Like Lovren, Sakho was strong aerially and passed the ball really well at the back. After an awful performance against Watford, Sakho was back to his best today.
Alberto Moreno – 7/10
Another solid display from Alberto Moreno as he looked solid defensively too. Like other Liverpool defenders, he did his job well today against a high-flying Leicester City.
Jordan Henderson – 9/10
Probably Liverpool’s best player today, Jordan Henderson put in a captain’s performance to earn his team three crucial points. He controlled the game in the midfield and seemed to have formed a good partnership with Emre Can.
Emre Can – 7/10
The young German international made several crucial interceptions and supported his captain well in midfield. Can looked calm and composed on the ball, and also made few brilliant runs through the middle to cause problems for the Leicester City defense.
Adam Lallana – 6/10
Struggling to add goals and assists to his game recently. Lallana had another average game and did very less to be a goal scoring threat.
Philippe Coutinho – 8/10
The Brazilian international looked in fine form today and caused problems for the Leicester City defense several times. Coutinho came close to scoring a couple of times but was unlucky not to find himself on the scoresheet.
Roberto Firmino – 7/10
Not the best of games for him as he is still trying to settle at Anfield. Firmino was struggling in the first half but did well to provide an assist in the second half for Benteke’s winner.
Divock Origi – 7/10
Divock Origi was Liverpool’s best player in the first half as he created a lot of early pressure for the Leicester City defense. Origi created a lof of space for the likes of Firmino and Coutinho and made a few brilliant runs. He was substituted for Benteke in the 37th minute due to an injury.
Substitutes
Christian Benteke – 6/10
Came on in the 39th minute to replace Divock Origi, but didn’t do much except for scoring the winner. Benteke had a brilliant chance to add a second goal, but would be very disappointed not to finish into an open goal.
Lucas Leiva
Came on too late to make an impact.
Joe Allen
Came on too late to make an impact.
Leicester City
Kasper Schmeichel – 7/10
Can’t be blamed for the goal, but did very well not to concede more. Liverpool looked in top form today, and Schmeichel performed well to give his team a chance to take away something from Anfield.
Danny Simpson – 6/10
Did well to contain the Liverpool attack, despite a majority of the game bein played in Leicester City’s half. He made few good blocks but was found out by the Liverpool attackers. Also did well to limit Albero Moreno’s crosses inside the box.
Wes Morgan – 7/10
Put in a good show today, but struggled against Divock Origi earlier on in the game. Did well once Benteke came on, and to keep the scoreline at just 1-0.
Robert Huth – 7/10
Like his defensive partner, he too struggled against Divock Origi but had a decent game overall.
Christian Fuchs – 7/10
One of the best performers for Leicester City today. Defensively he was good but did more when his team was attacking. He set up a brilliant chance for Kante to equalize, and put in a couple of good crosses.
Riyad Mahrez – 6/10
He had a couple of good moments, and even tested Mignolet once with a powerful shot, but struggled to create a major impact on the game.
Andy King – 5/10
Had minimal impact on the game, and struggled to keep possession for Leicester City. He was dominated by his opponent midfield players Jordan Henderson and Emre Can.
N’Golo Kante – 7/10
He continues to impress in the midfield and makes his presence known. Kante struggled a bit in the first half but made up for it in the second half. He was not supported much by his teammates today but put in a good show.
Marc Albrighton – 6/10
Struggled against Nathaniel Clyne and failed to make any impact on the game today. He has been impressive this season but probably had an off day today.
Shinji Okazaki – 6/10
Not a good game for him today as he didn’t see much of the ball, and was later substituted by Ranieri.
Jamie Vardy – 6/10
Played despite a fever and like Mahrez failed to make an impact. He caused troubles to the Liverpool defense a couple of times, but defenders did very well to contain him.
Substitutes
Nathan Dyer – 6/10
Was brought on for Okazaki and did well after coming on. He made a couple of good runs but failed to get an equalizer for his team.
Leonardo Ulloa – 5/10
Was brought on for Jamie Vardy and had twenty minutes to make an impact on the game, but did nothing to cause trouble for the Liverpool defense.
Andrej Kramaric – 5/10
Didn’t have too much time to make an impact, and hardly had time on the ball.
