Leicester City were edged by Liverpool as first half goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino left the hosts with too much to do. Here’s what we learned from their 2-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium:
Leicester City made to pay for another slow start
If starting slowly is some sort of tactic that Claude Puel is going to use to dethrone Pep Guardiola as the tactical supremo of the footballing world, then it’s clearly a pretty poor attempt at doing so. If it isn’t a tactic, then the Frenchman needs to make sure that Leicester don’t make it a habit that only a different manager gets to change.
When you are playing a team that is challenging for trophies, you have to start with a certain level of intent and intensity. Leicester lacked in both against Liverpool in the first half, and deservedly got punished.
They played really well thereafter, but the generous giveaways early on were always going to rattle them in a way that made a tough task tougher. If Leicester do want to achieve something this season, then they can’t keep relying on the mid-game spells, especially when up against a quality side.
Rachid Ghezzal grabs his chance with both hands
Has anyone had a better week than Rachid Ghezzal? He scored on his first start for Leicester City against Fleetwood Town earlier this week, got selected in the Algerian national team, and found the back of the net against Liverpool on his first start in the Premier League against Liverpool as well.
It isn’t his goal, however, that deserves the plaudits, it’s what he did apart from it that does. Let us have a look at his numbers from this afternoon:
Total passes: 44
Passes completed: 38 (86.4%)
Key passes: 2
Successful dribbles: 2
Accurate crosses: 2
Tackles won: 3
Aerial duels won: 1
That’s as comprehensive a showing as you would want to see from your winger. Not only was Ghezzal heavily involved in the final third, he was just as aware of his defensive duties, too – something that, if you’ve got a good memory, we didn’t say too many times about Riyad Mahrez.
Say it quietly, but so far, he is proving to be a nail hit right on the head.
Leicester City should be fine when Jamie Vardy is back
Leicester City dished out a number of positives despite the 2-1 loss, and that was when they didn’t have Jamie Vardy. If you are Claude Puel, you’d be saying, “Wait a second, if this is how we play without our main man, how good will we be when he’s back?”
With Vardy, Leicester could have certainly reaped more rewards for their second half showing. In the no.9’s absence, Puel chose to go with Demarai Gray up front, but you could see from the very start that it wasn’t quite working, as he is a true winger who can be anything but the focal point of an attack.
Thankfully, Vardy’s suspension is now the subject of history, and Leicester should consequently be fine again once he returns to the starting XI.