Liverpool set all-time club record at Anfield!
The Reds set an all-time club record for matches at Anfield without a loss, with 64 games, 53 wins and 11 draws. The last time these men lost was against Crystal Palace, April 2017.
The newly appointed main-course on the menu, the repas de jour…yes, these simply miraculous Reds indeed made a right proper meal of it, as they waxed the Foxes of Leicester in the first half 2-0. Game over!
This would turn out to be all Jurgen Klopp and the lads would need to send Brendan Rodgers and Leicester packing. A strong imaginative newly formed squad found the pitch for Klopp and did not disappoint throughout. It was one of the most dominating performances in this young season as the first 25 minute were textbook spectacular for the Reds. Brilliant football!
Youngsters Curtis Jones and Neco Williams put in great minutes, this is all the more quite outstanding. And no Mo Salah. Sadio Mane played his usual threatening quicksilver game; hitting the frame on at least two occasions in the second half.
Bobby Firmino finally found the scoresheet with a splendid header into the net from a set piece in the second half to put the tie beyond reach; after having been denied earlier attempts by the post and an incredible save from an outfield player on the goal line.
An own goal from the glancing head of Johnny Evans gave the Reds the lead in the 21st minute, after utterly relentless pressured, forward thinking football, executed beautifully.
I do not just say this as a fan of Liverpool, but as a lover of ‘the beautiful game’. This was a master’s master class in the way to set up a team that had zero minutes together as a unit in a Premier League match.
Do not be deceived here, Leicester are no slouch mid table walk in the park. They had not lost a point on the road until today; scoring 16 goals in those four matches for the Foxes. So this was something to go on about.
Jurgen Klopp has spun the injury merry-go-round, and brilliantly spun off the bounce to produce a masterpiece and a stroke of genius here. James Milner, the skipper, at right back. Joel Matip returning to pair with a returning Fabinho at center back, with the warrior Andrew Robertson at left back.
This is a competent backline with Alison between the sticks and they played like they’d played together this way a hundred times, quite flawlessly for the most part. Neco Williams would be enlisted in the second frame when Naby Keita starting midfielder, went off what appeared to be a calf muscle pull.
The always reliable Gini Wijnaldum and the young Jones rounded out the midfield staters. Both, with Naby Keita; and then Milner when Williams came on, had their way with a Leicester side that just looked wrong from the start. Rodgers chose to play five in his backline and four in the middle with Jamie Vardy up top.
This was clearly a set up gambling the house on getting a quick counter and then launching an over the top trademark assist to a streaking Vardy. At least this is how I hear Rodgers convincing himself…and it showed on the pitch.
Liverpool attacked this set up again and again with swift crosses and precise passing from Jota and Firmino to keep pressure on the Foxes, who played long stretches on their heels and on their back foot throughout proceedings.
Jota splashed some further brilliance for the Reds and his blossoming Reds career. He is now the first Liverpool player ever to score in each of his first four matches at Anfield. Hats off and a pint goes to Diogo!