Liverpool Outclassed and Out-"Foxed" by Leicester

Things never seem to slow down in English football when you progress in competitions outside of the league.  Such is the case for many teams, including Liverpool FC.  Due to the hectic schedule created by the FA Cup, the entire league had midweek fixtures.  Liverpool were faced with the task of taking on league title hopeful, Leicester City.  Both teams came out looking to take the game by the scruff, but it would not go according to plan for either.

Liverpool wasted a great chance in the 15th minute, mere moments after conceding an opportunity to the Foxes that resulted in a good save by Simon Mignolet..  Then, the Reds went down the field, and got it into the box.  Unfortunately, Roberto Firmino tried to lay the ball back for Lallana on a header and instead gave it right to the defense.  Playing against a team ahead of you in the table, you must convert those chances.

Mignolet came up huge again with a spectacular save on Mahrez in the 35 minute.  The ball came in from about 25 yards out and was labled for the upper corner with a curler.  Liverpool squandered another chance in the 40th minute when Alberto Moreno skied a shot in the instead of crossing it back across the box.  It was the type of decision that you applaud for taking initiative and criticize for being selfish when there were better options, all at once.

It was the kind of half that makes for pundit's dreams.  There were enough positives for either side so that whoever is on the individual team's side, they could point to this or that as being something to build on for the second half or at least the next game.  There was also enough done wrong, i.e. poor defending and lax defensive shape leading to breaks down the field, that national pundits could point out everything either team had done wrong.  Case in point, the NBC studio crew said Leicester had won the half when people in red saw Liverpool control a bit more of the possession.  At 0-0 though, neither side was fully right or wrong.

The second half opened up quite similarly.  Both squads bombed up the pitch with hopefulness and purpose.  Neither could really do much with the ball in the final third however.  It was not until the 60th minute that there was a breakthrough.  After Liverpool had gotten the ball into the box, Emre Can relinquished possession when surrounded by three defenders.  The Foxes just ripped a long ball up the right side for Jamie Vardy and he made Liverpool pay.  The up and coming striker took the ball on the bounce and just blasted a shot first-time from about 25 yards out and into the net.

Many will blame Mignolet or the defending, but it was a quality goal, brilliantly taken and any goalkeeper in the same situation would have been in the same spot on the field.  It was up to the players on the Liverpool side to attempt an equalizer from then on, while not conceding another.  Alas, that was not in the cards.

While the second goal was again expertly taken by Vardy, the defending was surely to blame.  Sakho failed to judge the ball on the first attempt and then failed to head it clear of the attacking players.  Then the Leicester strike force was given yards of space as the Liverpool defenders dropped off, which allowed them to pick out Vardy in the box.  Dejan Lovren had a moment where he fell asleep and by the time he turned around all he could do was tokenly lunge at the attempt.  There was no savior on that play however as Vardy slotted it past Lovren and over the diving Mignolet.

Liverpool's attack petered out following the first goal and all but disappeared after the second.  The apathy could be seen in full force on a corner kick in the 76th minute.  The kick itself was decent, but there was absolutely no movement toward the ball at all.  There was no one attacking and no one with the fortitude to put forth some effort.  Liverpool did not just lay down and die.  Nathaniel Clyne had a shot that would have surely scored in the 80th minute if not for a good block on the six yard line, but there just wasn't enough of it to make a difference.

Leicester are having a magical season, very similar to what Liverpool experienced the year Luis Suarez almost led them to the title.  They are currently a feel good story and everything that is right with the sport.  However, despite their top notch play and deserved place in the table, it still stings for a club like Liverpool to be so out-classed by a team that was in the relegation zone just last season.  There have been far worse losses in the past and this season, but this one really showed how far the club has fallen and how much work will be needed in the off-season to turn things around.  There is undoubtedly enough talent for Jurgen Klopp to work with so that he does not need an entirely new starting XI in one summer, but the overhaul will be wide spread and much needed.

Random Thoughts:
- I'm pleased Liverpool did not allow themselves to be held to ransom by Shaktar.  You can catch my thoughts in this video, which included some other soccer topics - https://youtu.be/3WUvQ2_eNBw

- I will never root for any club over Liverpool, but I am pulling for Leicester.  Similarly to how everyone expected the bottom to drop out when Liverpool were challenging a couple years ago, everyone keeps expecting the bubble to burst for the Foxes.  Maybe it eventually will, but they are still a pretty good story and play some pretty entertaining football.

- While I do truly believe my statement that the entire team does not need to be replaced in one summer transfer window, I don't know who I would say is safe.  Perhaps Coutinho or maybe Firmino, simply because of his price and the fact he was just bought, but outside of those I don't know if there is any player that I would be shocked to see sold or would empathize with if a replacement was purchased.

Walk On