On an afternoon of mild sunshine in the newly-expanded Anfield, Liverpool’s superiority over defending champions Leicester City was confirmed in the 56th minute. Inside the box, Georginio Wijnaldum was faced with the decision of playing a final pass with the opposing defenders closing in. There were perhaps two options at his disposal, but the Dutchman chose to touch the ball into space for the advancing Adam Lallana.
Lallana, more syringe than bludgeon, would be the last Liverpool attacker one would expect to pull off what followed. A straight, hard shot arrowing into the top corner was beyond Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal and it put Liverpool 3-1 up. The brilliant strike knocked the wind out of the visitors’ sails as they eventually surrendered to a limp 4-1 defeat.
The home side’s pressing was notable for the way in which it crushed the Foxes’ morale and the nature of their goals – all fast, flowing football that tore holes in Leicester’s resistance – are reminders of Liverpool’s attacking prowess. A front three of Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane had the speed, the verve and the subtlety to pierce through Leicester’s defences, and their direct, vertical passing exploited the champions’ weaknesses wonderfully.
Sturridge shines and Firmino fires
Sturridge, playing as the recognised striker but flitting and floating all over the forward line, was crucial to the scoring of the first two goals. Leicester named an unchanged side from their last Premier League encounter and lined up in their usual 4-4-2. This may have been the cause of their problems, although it may instead simply have been a case of lacking the right players. There were precisely two periods in the game where Leicester found their feet. One of these came in opening exchanges of the first half.
After that, though, it was all Liverpool. There were a few individuals who really made Leicester’s tactics tick last season, and the departed N’Golo Kante from deep in midfield was one of them. One of the inherent weaknesses of the 4-4-2 is its extreme flatness, and in the absence of someone with Kante’s intelligence and defensive nous to drop in front of the defence, it became evident as a limitation.
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In fairness to Liverpool, they did not dawdle in making use of their possession. The goals came from direct, straight passes, few in number, that found space between or behind the lines. Indeed, it is entirely possible that had Liverpool pondered a second too long, Leicester would have fallen back quickly to block the space between the lines.
This is how the first goal came about. Dropping extraordinarily deep to win the ball, Sturridge began the attack from deep inside the Liverpool half. The goal was made by two direct passes, from Lucas to James Milner, unmarked on the left wing, and then to Firmino, who had crept between defence and midfield. The finish, however, was all Firmino – an excellent first touch off Milner’s arrowed pass and an assured finish.
The Mane man
Mane continued the excellent start to his Liverpool career with another goal after half an hour of the game. The Leicester defence were caught too high up to the pitch, very close to the midfield, and a simple ball over the top by Jordan Henderson sent Mane and Sturridge free. It demonstrated Sturridge’s uncanny ability to perform equally well in amongst the centre-halves as much as with the ball at his feet. A lovely backheel found Mane with no one near him, and the new signing dinked the ball over Schmeichel to make it 2-0.
The England forward was himself somewhat unlucky not ti make the scoresheet. Some tremendous interplay found him unmarked at the near post with Leicester’s captain Wes Morgan momentarily incapacitated, and Sturridge was only denied by the quick reflexes of Schmeichel.
The fourth goal was the icing on the cake. Another long pass over the top caught Leicester unaware at the back and Mane latched on to it in a flash. The Senegalese then jumped Schmeichel's tackle and squared it for Firmino to score the 101st goal of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign.
Lessons for Chelsea
Up next for Liverpool is a trip to Stamford Bridge. The episode at Burnley proved that Liverpool still lack the tools to break down compact defences. And Antonio Conte's well coached, rigorously attentive Chelsea will no doubt have taken note of this.
Mane, again, will prove to be the key man. His coruscating speed strikes awe in opposing defences – what Edmund Burke would have described as the sublime. Width will be needed to stretch play, and Mane is the only Liverpool forward capable of offering such a threat.
It’s worth noting that Liverpool, despite their quick counter-attacking goals, controlled 63% of the possession in the first half against Leicester and ended the game with 61% of the ball. Rather, it was the nature and quality of their passing that gave the Merseysiders the cutting edge this time. With players like Sturridge and Mane in good form, it makes an even stronger case for heavy metal football.
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There is a case to be made that Liverpool’s struggle at Burnley was due to them having to chase the game almost immediately from the off, and so did not get a chance to pierce their way through a massed defence in their own flowing style. Conte’s formations will almost certainly have more depth, and finding space between the lines may prove to be more challenging. It may be clichéd, but conceding first could be a dagger to Liverpool’s hopes.
One unusual thing may work in their favour though is the tag of the underdog. Inconsistency continues to dog Liverpool’s footsteps and Chelsea, in fine form and with the expectation of playing at home, may be unconsciously influenced into a rash move. A draw would perhaps suit the Reds more than the Blues, but if their passing is anything like that on Saturday, then three points are not entirely out of the question.
