LIVERPOOL 3-1 LEICESTER CITY 5 talking points as Liverpool trash Leicester
LIVERPOOL 3-1 LEICESTER CITY Dominik Szoboszlai came off the bench to score a wonder strike to ensure the Carabao Cup was not interrupted at Anfield after the visitors took an early lead.
Liverpool overcame an early Leicester City goal to book their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup as Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning winner.
Jurgen Klopp took a risk and certainly doubted it was a good idea in the opening three minutes as Kasey McAteer showed enough composure to slot past Caoimh Kelleher to put the Championship leaders ahead – they took the lead at half-time. .
But just minutes into the second half, Cody Gakpo put the hosts in front of the Kop, proving their dominance. Liverpool are aiming for a 10th success in the competition, which they last won in 2021, and Klopp has bought some of his big hits in the hunt for a winner. Szoboszlai needed just minutes to highlight his chance when he received the ball from 25 yards before touching down and firing past a helpless Jakub Stolarczyk into the Leicester goal. With a minute remaining, Liverpool added a third thanks to Diogo Jota’s classy finish after good work from Jarell Quansah.
Gakpo takes advantage of the opportunity
Anfield’s forward line is not easy to navigate unless Mo Salah is there. Otherwise, the two places are almost four men because Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are looking to prove themselves.
Gakpo has been in and out of the starting lineup since the start of the season, but making the most of his opportunity will be crucial if he is to make a splash. His intelligent touch, spin and finish showed exactly what he is capable of in charge – something that has not gone unnoticed by his bosses.
Doak has a frustrating night
The youngster will be called upon for big things, but such is Klopp’s attacking talent that he will have to take his chances when they come. As a result, not scoring against Leicester counts as a missed opportunity for the 17-year-old, despite showing plenty of promise.
What will surely delight his coaches and teammates was his drive and ambition, as the teenager constantly tried to get on the ball and challenge the opposition. He retired right after the class, albeit to applause, but perhaps he wanted more from his outing. VAR is not affected
McAteer put the cat firmly among the pigeons when he silenced Anfield in the opening minutes, but if that goal had been scored in the Premier League, there would certainly have been doubts as to whether it would stand during the next VAR review.
Fortunately for the Foxes, but not the Reds, the Carabao Cup does not have VAR, so Kostas Tsimika’s well-deserved pleas fell on deaf ears. Instead, Leicester were in front seconds later and McAteer knew it was safe to celebrate in front of the Kop.
Klopp names the favourites
The German cites fatigue and a double substitution when the changes needed midway through the second half, but it was telling that he withdrew Doak and Ryan Gravenberch and brought on Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin as Liverpool chased a penalty-avoidant victory. Now
The pair are two men she trusts. Nunez is still adjusting to the English game and has already come up with some big moments this term, while Szoboszlai has been a class act since his Chelsea debut. Gravenberch was under contract and apparently his boss thought it best to replace him with a Hungarian team-mate if Liverpool were to cross the line – and boy did Szoboszlai prove himself right.
Leicester are looking for a share
The Foxes are top of the Championship and seemed to be flowing with confidence, especially in the first 45 minutes. They have won seven out of eight games in the league so far and at this rate their stay out of the English Premier League will be short-lived. Their ambition, which they played with week in week out, was not dampened by the challenge at Anfield and even when they fell behind they held on to pull away. Their early goal whetted the appetite and even in the defensive third, the visitors slugged it out like a Premier League outfit. Liverpool started to dominate as expected but were made to work hard for the win. It’s fair to say that their squad should never have suffered relegation – many of these players remain at the club and look ready to play at the highest level.
