Leicester City faced Champions League chasing Liverpool at the King Power Stadium in another must-win game for the Foxes’ hopes of surviving relegation. Leicester almost had to pick up points as they run out of time to turn their fate around.
Liverpool had won six in their last six games. Leicester won one and drew two of their last six games and were desperate for another win to boost their survival hopes. A win would’ve placed Leicester in 16th place on 33 points, allowing City to sit hot on the heels of their relegation rivals.
The Foxes started off on the front foot, almost looking like a new side for the first 30 minutes. But, their heads dropped as Curtis Jones found the net in the 33rd minute. The 22-year-old midfielder doubled his goal tally just three minutes later and after 36 minutes played, Liverpool were 2-0 up and looking to add more. Leicester looked worse and worse as time ticked by, they looked like a team who had lost motivation and passion. Which isn’t the best quality when you’re in a relegation battle. City started the second-half continuing their poor first-half performance.
In the 71st minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold sealed victory for The Reds after a stunning free-kick, with his strike finding the top corner. Mohamed Salah should’ve made it 4-0 on the 79th minute, but his shot fired wide of the Leicester net. The game finished 3-0 to Liverpool.
The Reds’ push for Champions League football continues, but Leicester’s thoughts are elsewhere. The Foxes are staring at relegation to the Championship. Here are our three Leicester City players who let the side down:
Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans
It was exactly two years to the day since the Belgium midfielder scored that goal at Wembley. Two years on and Leicester are facing a very different battle. The man who once was a hero has fallen and ruined his reputation as a Leicester legend. The number eight kept slipping up during the game as well as made too many silly mistakes. He also didn’t press the Liverpool players enough. Some could say this is a lack of fitness as he was out for six weeks with an ankle injury.
Tielemans looks like a player who’s head is elsewhere and is already thinking about his move away from City in the summer. The Belgian’s contract is up after this season and will be leaving LCFC for free in the summer.
Boubakary Soumare
Soumare had one of his worst games in a Leicester shirt against Liverpool. He disappeared at key moments in the game. The French defensive midfielder was even seen standing around chatting to the referee whilst the game was playing. The former Lille player only made 12 first-half passes, of those he did make his touches were heavy and he often lost possession of the ball. He has often looked unconfident and unsure whilst playing in a Leicester shirt and last night was no exception. The City midfielder also failed to recognise the threat of Curtis Jones as he allowed the young midfielder to run past him with ease.
James Maddison
Although he wasn’t necessarily a player that ‘didn’t impress’, he just tried to do too much. ‘Madders’ showed off his quick feet and impressive skills as he danced around the pitch with the ball, but too often he ran into trouble and gave the ball away. The number ten dribbled with the ball in circles and didn’t find a pass to any of his players as Liverpool defenders would quickly whip the ball off him.
There are massive doubts around Maddison’s future, with a move away from Leicestershire more than expected. Could his head be elsewhere or is he just trying to do too much on his own?