Leicester players looked like they had been storing up energy for Liverpool… here’s our verdict on how they rated
FIVE days after a gruelling Champions’ League night in Seville and the loss of Claudio Ranieri, how would Leicester’s players cope against Liverpool? one of the fittest hardest-pressing teams in the Premier League?
Pretty spectacularly actually... in fact a cynic might suspect the Foxes had been storing up energy for weeks for this 3-1 victory over the Reds!
LEICESTER CITY (Dream Team ratings)
KASPER SCHMEICHEL (8) – Denied Liverpool a lifeline on the stroke of half time, clawing away a wicked, bouncing effort from Emre Can. Big saves from Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana too before Coutinho finally beat him. Despite one late scare, the Dane has been Foxes’ Player of the Season, to date.
DANNY SIMPSON (6) – Lucky to escape serious injury when he turned his ankle in the first half. But gritted his teeth and dug in with the rest of his teammates to go the extra mile for the cause.
WES MORGAN (6) – Snapped into tackles and never gave Liverpool’s forwards a moment’s peace. Far more like his old commanding self.
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ROBERT HUTH (7) – Awesome in the air and held a good line with his fellow defenders. Back to the dominant form of last season – a far cry from the hesitant, error-prone bundle of nerves he’s been for months.
CHRISTIAN FUCHS (8) – Along with Jamie Vardy, the Austrian was unrecognisable. Sluggish for much of the season he burst forward with purpose and delivered the killer cross for Vardy’s header to make it 3-0. Stunning transformation.
RIYAD MAHREZ (6) – Left the pitch to an ovation when replaced by Demarai Gray late on. Ripped the Reds apart as his confidence grew and almost set up Danny Drinkwater with a jinking run at the end which was a flashback to last season’s PFA Player of the Year form.
DANNY DRINKWATER (8) – Smashed home his first goal of the season with a stunning volley – his first since scoring at Stamford Bridge on the final day of last season. Back to his best and almost added a second, firing over at the end.
WILFRED NDIDI (8) – Dominated midfield with Drinkwater and never gave Jurgen Klopp’s men an inch of space. A stunning box-to-box performance which, if continued, may finally help the Foxes get over the loss of Ngolo Kante.
MARC ALBRIGHTON (8) – Swapped flanks with Mahrez at various times and ran Liverpool ragged. Conjured up the pass of the night to send Jamie Vardy scampering clear for Leicester’s opener and defended brilliantly at times. Immense.
SHINJI OKAZAKI (6) – What you see is what you get with the Japanese forward – non-stop effort. Ranieri maybe didn’t use him wisely this season as he provided much-needed support for Vardy.
JAMIE VARDY (9) – Clearly it was his postman look-alike who went on a 748 minute goal drought this season! Vardy was magnificent and covered every blade of grass up front, running into the corners, terrifying the Reds defenders into mistakes – not to mention two brilliantly taken goals. The real deal again!
SUBS: Amartey for Okazaki (69, 6), Gray for Mahrez (80, 5), Chilwell for Albrighton (90+1, 5)
Leicester's subs were sent on late by Craig Shakespeare to disrupt the flow of the game as the Klopp's Reds staged a late revival.
Apart from when Demarai Gray ran deep into Liverpool territory, they were there to frustrate and halt Liverpool's momentum which they managed successfully.
Liverpool's Dream Team ratings
Mignolet 6, Clyne 6, Matip 6, Lucas 6 (Woodburn 84, 6), Milner 6, Lallana 6 (Origi 66, 6), Can 8, Wijnaldum 6, Mane 6 (Moreno 66, 6), Firmino 6, Coutinho 8
