Jota doubles up as Liverpool hammered Leicester City
A clinical performance by Liverpool to keep up the pace at the top of the table, as the Reds make Leicester their new victim.
Liverpool welcomed Leicester City for Thursday night’s Premier League game. The pressure was on Liverpool to respond to Manchester City’s win over Brentford that took Guardiola’s side 12 points clear at the top of the table.
As the Reds cannot afford any slip-ups in the evening, the boys in Red started the game in a brilliant fashion to put Brendan Roger’s side on the back foot.
Liverpool star Mo Salah was in the squad following his arrival from AFCON duty. Klopp named him on the Reds bench.
Anyways, with Liverpool pushing so hard for the opening goal got rewarded in the 34th minute. Diogo Jota scored on the rebound after Van Dijk’s bullet header was saved by Foxes goalie Schmeichel.
After the interval, Klopp & Co. started the second half from they left off. Moreover, Mo Salah was introduced in the 60th minute of the game replacing Bobby Firmino. The home fans applauded the return of the Egyptian King after his one-month absence.
And to be honest, his one-month absence from the Anfield club felt very long.
With now Salah, Jota, Diaz there was more electricity in the Anfield atmosphere. The trio combined well and constantly attacked Leicester’s post but their brilliant efforts were denied every time.
But in the 87th minute, Jota scored his and Liverpool’s second of the game to seal the victory.
In the end, it finished Liverpool 2-0 Leicester City. Ensuring to keep up the pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Key Numbers
Leicester City recorded three consecutive losses in Premier League games for the third time over their last 11 visits (D2) at Anfield. Only Arsenal (14) have endured a longer winless away run at a specific side in English Topflight.
The Foxes have recorded their worst tally of conceding from set-pieces. Leicester have conceded more set-piece goals than any other side in the competition. Their tally of 18 goals conceded from set-pieces equals the numbers from their entire 2020-21 League campaign, with still 17 games to be played.
Liverpool remains the only team so far in the Premier League yet to lose on their home. Klopp’s men have recorded 11 wins out of 15 Premier League home games (D4), scoring at least twice in 12 of those games (34 in total).
Liverpool vs Leicester City: Post match reaction
Klopp reacts to how pleased he is with the performance
I am because winning 2-0, I will never – and it’s not allowed to – take something like that for granted. I saw a lot of good football tonight but there were moments when I wished we would have controlled the game a little bit more, when we gave Leicester at least a bit too much possession
But anyhow, it was two wonderful goals, could have scored more and we are the deserved winner.
Klopp speaks about Diaz ‘looking at home in a Liverpool shirt already’
That’s exactly the impression he made in training and that’s why we thought, ‘Come on, let’s give it a try.’
We didn’t overload new players with information in the first week and tell them everything we want them to do, we just have a look. And when we looked at it, it looked like a Liverpool player, that’s true.
When asked about trying to chase down Man City
It was really important for us tonight to win, because there’s not only Man City to catch or whatever, there are a lot of teams in behind us who want to get closer – and that’s a very important task as well.
Klopp spoke on Jota’s knack of breaking the deadlock in games and making decisive contributions.
We knew he is good, [but] we had no idea how good – or where – his limit is or where he can go and I am not sure he is already there, he is just improving.
Lastly, the German spoke about Salah’s impact off the bench
What a quality he has.
We played a lot of football in the first 55 minutes, so that’s tiring for the opponent as well, and that Mo can then come on gives your game a different dimension and we nearly used that.
What’s next for Liverpool?
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Burnley at Turf Moor for Sunday’s Premier League tie. Burnley are currently at the bottom in the league standings and fighting for survival.
Previously, Sean Dyche’s side nicked a draw against Manchester United in their last game. And will be hoping for a similar effort from his boys at home against Liverpool.
