Resilient Reds trap Foxes as Diogo Jota mesmerises
By Riaz Ravat
Liverpool were fantastic as they beat table toppers Leicester.
After an international break of immense anxiety, which came on the back of a series of serious injuries leaving a thread bare squad, Liverpool’s performance and 3-0 victory against the Foxes was their best of the season in the Premier League so far.
The night began with one great paying tribute to the Greatest. Alisson Becker wore a replica shirt in his warm-up, as worn by the late Ray Clemence MBE, and was joined by colleagues when he laid a wreath and the shirt itself on the Anfield green.
How fitting it was that Alisson kept a clean sheet.
The league leaders Leicester came into the game high on points and confidence as they had done so on Boxing Day night last year. This 3-0 win compared to that 4-0 statement win in so many ways, yet it was more impressive when one considers the difficulties the Champions faced in terms of selections.
The Foxes should be grateful to the woodwork which saved them on several occasions. This was a night of exceptional showcases throughout the team but Andy Robertson, James Milner, Curtis Jones, Fabinho, Joel Matip, Sadio Mané and Diogo Jota stood out – the latter proving to be an outstanding signing with yet another sublime goal following a begging cross by Andy Robertson.
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The game finishing goal was a bullet header – yet another one against Leicester by Roberto Firmino, who must have thought it was going to be another frustrating night in front of the goal following his multiple skirmishes with the goal line.
The pre-match talk was about how Jamie Vardy could expose Liverpool’s high defensive line but the Champions are adapting their game. Without key personnel, it is a case of horses for courses and Milner’s warrior like effort epitomised how the Reds are finding more tools in their armour with Jota’s mesmeric ability to find positions, two-footed ball control and adaptability adding another dimension to our firepower.
Unfortunately the night was spoilt by yet another injury to Naby Keita with Xherdan Shaqiri now also on the treatment table. The return of Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson will sweeten this pill.
Jurgen Klopp’s record breaking Champions broke the club record – 64 top flight games without defeat at Anfield. Leicester may have hoped for a repeat of history – they were the team which ended our last run in 1981 but Klopp’s ‘Mentality Monsters’ were in no mood to allow the Foxes to crack this chronicle.
In the words of our former captain Steven Gerrard, ‘we go again’.
RIP Ray Clemence – YNWA.
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Riaz Ravat is a member of Liverpool FC’s Equality & Diversity Fan Forum. He writes in a personal capacity.