Liverpool 2-1 Leicester City: Player Ratings

Liverpool hosted Leicester in what was the last game of the year for both clubs as Liverpool’s newest recruit, Virgil van Dijk gauged from the stands just how important he is going to be to this team’s ambitions.

Liverpool’s performances this season might well have earned them the tag of the “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Club” and once again, both their genius and abysmal sides were on display in front of the Kop.

As has been the case so many times this season, an error from the Liverpool defence gifted their opposition, in this case, Leicester, an unlikely opportunity which was finished neatly by Jamie Vardy to hand the Foxes the lead a mere three minutes into the match.

However, the saving grace, Liverpool’s attack, turned up once again with talisman Mo Salah scoring a brace to take his goal tally in the league to 17 this season. The full-time whistle came with the score at 2-1 in favour of Liverpool.

The Reds would have been mightily relieved to have survived that scare while the Leicester players would have surely felt a little hard done by, especially having taken the lead so early on in the game. Here’s the report card from today’s clash at Anfield.

Liverpool

Loris Karius-6/10

The young shot-stopper earned another start in a Liverpool shirt tonight but hardly had to make a save all match. Although Karius couldn’t be blamed for Leicester’s goal, his ball distribution and decision making did look suspect at times. The Liverpool no. 1 position still looks very much up for grabs.

Joe Gomez-6/10

Gomez started well but his influence waned off as the match progressed with a few errors creeping into his game. The accuracy and consistency of crossing from the young Englishman still leave a lot to be desired. However, he did defend steadily when Klopp shut up shop towards the end of the game.

Joel Matip-3/10

Easily Liverpool’s worst player on the pitch today, the ever-reliable centre-back had an afternoon to forget. Was clearly the one at fault for Leicester’s goal and his vulnerability at the back throughout the game forced Klopp to send in Ragnar Klavan to close out the match without incident.

Dejan Lovren-6/10

Lovren was much better than his centre-back paining today and had the Leicester boys covered for the majority of the game. The big Croatian was also offered a chance for a headed strike in the second half but flattered to deceive.

Andy Robertson-7/10

The Scotsman worked tirelessly all game; both bombing forward and defending with aplomb and even covering on occasion for the faltering Matip. The only criticism that could be made of the performance from Liverpool’s left back is that his crossing from the flanks needs greater consistency.

Emre Can-5/10

The German who has become so important to the Liverpool side just didn’t turn up tonight. Can was sluggish in the initial periods of the game and was partly to blame for Leicester’s opener. The midfielder also picked up an unnecessary yellow card for a clash with Harry Maguire following Salah’s first goal.

James Milner-8/10

From making incisive runs into the opposition box to dropping back into his own to help out his defenders, Liverpool’s captain on the day was just everywhere. The icing on the cake for this performance from Milner was a lovely backheel into the path of Salah to set up the Egyptian for Liverpool’s winner.

Philippe Coutinho-6/10

Liverpool’s little Brazilian genius was certainly not at his best tonight but he still combined well with the Liverpool front three. Not the starry performance today that we have usually come to associate with Coutinho but a decent one nonetheless.

Mo Salah-9/10

Liverpool main man this season was up to his antics once again as a coolly taken brace plucked Liverpool out of a stupor and earned them three difficult points. Got ahead of his marker time and again and once the ball sticks to the left foot of Mo Salah, there is only one place it is headed, the back of the net as Leicester learnt it the hard way.

Mo Salah once again came up trumps for the Reds with a superbly taken brace

Roberto Firmino-6/10

Another one of Liverpool’s Brazilians and another one who has been in scintillating form of late didn’t have his best game tonight. Troubled the Leicester defenders with his unlimited trickery but lacked the spark displayed by him in Liverpool’s previous matches in the festive period.

Sadio Mane-7/10

Back into the starting eleven today, the Senegalese winger was out with a point of prove today. He did get the ball into the net twice but the goal was disallowed both times for offside. However, Mane did have a crucial part to play in Liverpool’s win as a neat backheeled lay-off teed up Salah for Liverpool’s opening goal.

Substitutes

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain-6/10

Chamberlain was the first change for Liverpool coming on for Sadio Mane. As has been the case of late, Oxlade-Chamberlain impressed on the pitch in what little time he got, linking well with his teammates and making intelligent runs down the field.

Gini Wijnaldum-5/10

The Dutchman came on in the 83rd minute of the match for Mo Salah. Had a few good opportunities to cross telling balls into the box but couldn’t make them count.

Ragnar Klavan-6/10

Liverpool’s third centre-back was sent on to shore up the defence in the dying moments of the match and he did just that winning a telling header while also suffering a blow to the head from his own keeper (accidental of course) for his troubles.

Leicester

Jamie Vardy scored in the 3rd minute of the game to take his goal tally to 7 in 8 games against the Reds

Kasper Schmeichel-7/10

Leicester’s ever-reliable goalkeeper was once again up to the task as he did well to keep out Liverpool for the majority of the game. There was nothing Schmeichel could do about the two goals though. All in all, despite the defeat, a solid showing from the Dane in front of the Kop.

Daniel Amartey-4/10

The Ghanian had his hands full with the Liverpool fab four. Sadio Mane especially gave Amartey a torrid time with his mazy runs down the flanks while Andy Robertson who came bombing down the pitch at every opportunity from left back only compounded his voes. Not offering anything going forward either, it was a well below par performance from the Leicester right back this afternoon.

Harry Maguire-3/10

The big centre-back had a game to forget as Mo Salah ran rings around him in the Leicester penalty box with his touch not doing him any favours either. Maguire was found wanting on both of Liverpool’s goals and will require strong back to back performance to bounce back from this one.

Wes Morgan-5/10

A neither here, nor there game for Wes Morgan today as he wasn’t in the limelight as much as his centre-back partner Maguire. Defensively, Morgan struggled to keep up with the pace of the Liverpool front three and will be hoping for a much better showing when Leicester take on Huddersfield next.

Christian Fuchs-5/10

It was always going to be a tough match defensively for Christian Fuchs given that he was coming up against the pace of Mo Salah. Fuchs looked out of his depth when Salah made those speedy runs he has become so famous for but did well going forward and with his long throws also came in handy when Liverpool switched off late in the game to defend.

Riyad Mahrez-7/10

The Algerian was one of the brighter sparks in the Foxes’ squad today. Ran like the wind and then delivered a perfect cross into the box to set up Vardy’s goal. Mahrez also troubled the Liverpool defence continuously with his skulduggery up until he was substituted early keeping the upcoming fixtures in mind.

Wilfred Ndidi-5/10

Ndidi had a hard time dealing with Liverpool’s pacy left wing and attack-minded midfielders. James Milner repeatedly got goal side of Ndidi while Mane presented him with questions of his own which were more often than not unanswered.

Vicente Iborra-5/10

The Spaniard had a game not dissimilar to his partner at the centre of the park. His opposite numbers routinely got the better of him today while Liverpool’s dynamic play up front proved to be fish too big to fry for Leicester’s holding medio.

Marc Albrighton-6/10

Albrighton looked lively in the initial stages of the game following Leicester’s goal but his legs were cut off by Liverpool’s persistent pressing. Had a chance to set up Maguire with a great header midway through the first half but that was about it for his contribution to Leicetser’s attack today and was subbed off for the final ten minutes of the game.

Demarai Gray-7/10

Leicester’s most effective offensive player on the day, Gray continuously troubled the Liverpool centre-backs with his relentless running. A tad too enthusiastic at times, a bit more consistency with the final ball is what the young Englishman would be looking for to make this his breakthrough season.

Jamie Vardy-7/10

The Leicester centre-forward was at hand to slot the ball into the opposition net right in the opening stages of the game. He did little more of note however in his seventy odd minutes on the pitch. Nevertheless, Vardy’s record against Liverpool remains one that the Reds will be wary of every time he comes up against them.

Substitutes

Shinji Okazaki-5/10

The Japanese came on as part of a double change along with Slimani. Ran tirelessly for the entire duration he was on the pitch but unfortunately, without much reward.

Islam Slimani-4/10

Was part of the double change made by the Leicester gaffer and was brought on to add a bit more physicality up top. However, Liverpool switched into defensive mode soon after Slimani’s introduction and the Algerian was never afforded the space he would have liked to free his legs.

Matty James-N/A

James came on for Marc Albrighton in the 83rd minute but couldn’t do much to stamp his authority on the game.