Liverpool 2-0 Leicester: Rodgers’ broken Foxes template

A late second-half finish from Jota sealed the tie, but Leicester City rarely looked like scoring. The xG numbers for the game (which should be taken with a pinch of salt, as these stats should be utilised over many games to display trends rather than singular irregularities) paint the same picture — 3.3 – 0.46, the Foxes were lucky to concede only two goals and would’ve required an “overperformance” on their shots to score. Nobody in the East Midlands camp will suggest this was an unfortunate result.

My frustrations mainly lie with the approach to the game. In recent weeks, two clubs have gone to Anfield with a lot fewer resources than the Foxes — even with their injury woes — and attacked the game. Cardiff City eventually lost the tie but really pressurised a full-strength Red’s defence, while Brighton & Hove Albion deployed a clever “false 9” 4-1-4-1 with Leandro Trossard being the star and left — deservingly — with a point for their troubles.

But, with Rodgers, Leicester rarely set up (in these difficult fixtures) to attack the game. It’s all about limiting goals against and trying to dispatch the few chances we create in transitions. It’s simply negative and doesn’t utilise the quality of players the Foxes have in their ranks — yes, confidence is a major factor in attacking difficult games away from home and that’s seriously lacking in the current crop of players. But, when you’re defensively frail, trying to articulate a plan that’s sole responsibility is not conceding, you’re going to struggle.