Reds Grind Out Win At Leicester

Sports - Football - Premier League - LCFC 1:2 LFC

Liverpool held on to their lead against Leicester to make it four wins out of the first four league games for the first time in 28 years, despite Alisson Becker's howler (63') and struggling against the Foxes after Sadio Mané (10') and Roberto Firmino (45') had put the Reds ahead at the King Power stadium.

Jürgen Klopp will have been a very relieved manager to have banked the three points despite the dominance by the home side and his team's flaws and errors after the restart in today's lunchtime kick-off.

Claude Puel will have been the more frustrated, having paid for their mistakes in the first half but not being able to make all their chances and breaks count to make a comeback in the second half, especially after Rachid Ghezzal pulled one back in such embarrassing and devastating fashion against the visitors.

Hence, it was a game of two very different halves.

Here are my live match notes as it all unfolded:

Vardy's still suspended for Leicester, Henderson's in for Keita, Lovren's still out for Liverpool. See the full line-up at the bottom of this post.

The King Power Stadium's louddddd!

KICK-OFF

5' Salah puts the rebound off Firmino's attempt wide, good save by Schmeichel against Bobby, Liverpool on top early on.

09:30 MANÉ GOAL! Robertson on the left side of the box, passes back to Mané in the box, through the heart of the Foxes' back defence to give the Reds the lead, easy finish for the Senegalese, his fourth goal, what a gap, too easy, BOOM! 0-1

15' All Liverpool, 66.1% possession to be exact.

20' Robertson again, putting Leicester under pressure, pushing, crossing and passing into the box from the left, but defended and cleared this time.

24' Best chance for Leicester so far, Gray runs clear of van Dijk, shoots, Alisson punches the ball away.

25' First corner for the home side, Alisson catches and throws clear, no pressure.

30' Gomez clears more Leicester pressure after Maddison set up Gray but he couldn't quite get to it.

32' Both sides give and take the ball, Albrighton takes a shot from distance, nowhere near.

33' Another shot from distance, Maddison this time, they are fuming to the ref about something, don't have a clue what they're on about...

34' Leicester free kick, flag is up, that's a waste.

36' Firmino concedes a free kick in the centre circle, trying to be flashy but handling the ball instead.

38' Milner is down, holding his head after clashing with Pereira on the rub. Play is stopped, but not for long, Leicester take their throw seconds later.

40' Another Leicester free kick, headed away. Missing all the fouls... ?! Soft one against Firmino I think this call was...

43' Mané with loads of space on the left, pulls the ball back, Liverpool trying to stretch the Foxes, Salah with a shot eventually, from the edge of the box, Schmeichel saves, out for a Red corner.

44' Milner takes, skipper Morgan heads it away for another Red corner.

45' Milner takes again, FIRMINO HEADS IT IN! The ball somehow bounces or just gets away from full-stretched Schmeichel's left glove and in. 0-2

Just one minute added on, Klopp couldn't have asked for a better start, Puel's birthday cake will taste very sour if it stays this way (he's gonna be 57 tomorrow).

Under Klopp, Firmino has been directly involved in 60 Premier League goals (37 goals, 23 assists), 15 more than any other Liverpool player. BOOM!

RESTART

48' Leicester chance wide, Ghezzal from the right, Alisson thought of going for it but then watched the ball go out for a goal kick.

50' Maddison shot from outside the box, nice curl, too much space, Alisson reads and catches it, easy, both gloves.

52' Maddison took and totally wasted Leicester's first corner of this half, wide. Liverpool throw. The home side keep the pressure up and going though, grabbing the ball back straight away, Maddison in the box again, CHANCE, wide. The Foxes are getting closer and closer, dominating this half so far.

55' Van Dijk is BOOKED for bringing down Maddison, free kick in dangerous territory outside the box for the Foxes. The wall does it's job and blocks any threat for the Reds.

57' Another Leicester corner, CHANCE, somehow Alisson gets the ball, there were three or four Leicester players clear on goal there! I can hear Klopp shouting his face off, no wonder! WTF?!

58' Liverpool counter, Salah mistimes his pass to Firmino, Leicester clear the threat.

59' Chilwell breaks on the left, his cross is headed away by Gomez.

60' LCFC 64%-36% LFC = 2nd half possession, home side coming and hitting back strongly...

61' SUB Iheanacho replaces Albrighton, first change made by Puel, can the home side make all their work pay and hit back?

62' Robertson chance wide, Red subs warming up as well.

62:21 ALISSON SCREWS UP, prances around the ball on the left side in the box, loses it to sub Iheanacho, runs back desperately, Ghezzal (who was booked earlier but I totally missed it) meets the fine pass and nets it, 1-2. WHAT A GOAL TO CONCEDE! OUCH! THAT'S WHY I HATE BACKPASSES!!!

67' The King Power stadium is super loud again now! Klopp is getting his subs ready...

69' Gray on the left, messes up the chance and/or pass, whatever it was supposed to be, Alisson collects. Sarcastic cheers all round.

71' SUBS Klopp rings in the changes, Salah's replaced by Shaqiri, Keita comes on for Henderson.

75' Leicester 5-1 Liverpool in chances this half! Puel is getting the next SUB ready... Gray is replaced by Okazaki.

78' Keita wins a free kick after being wrestled down, Liverpool play around the box, until Okazaki intercepts Shaqiri's pass.

79' Chilwell's down after Alexander-Arnold kicked the ball right into his best bits, OUCH!

80' Reds throw after the Fox recovered... Saying that, they are now waving for help, Chilwell goes off the pitch with his doc...

81' Liverpool try to waste time with the ball in the corner, Shaqiri is brought down and wins a free kick.

82' Milner takes, Mané heads it wide. Last change for the home side, Maddison comes off to be replaced by Amartey.

85' Mané on the left for Liverpool, the Foxes clear the threat, the Senegalese looks hurt in the process, nothing obvious... Seems okay after a few seconds...

86' Alexander-Arnold SHOT nowhere near, goal kick. Red fans are louder now.

87' Van Dijk kicks the ball clear, but Leicester keep pushing, Milner clears, not far, free kick to the home side, taken quickly, Keita blocks...

88' Mané down, free kick to the Reds, Mandy BOOKED for pushing the Senegalese down.

89' Last change for the Reds, Alexander-Arnold comes off for Matip. Free kick wasted, Schmeichel eventually collects the ball comfortably.

90' Shaqiri wins a corner on the right - FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON!!! Klopp doesn't look too happy about that. Milner takes the corner short with Shaqiri in front of him, Liverpool throw, they take their time, of course.

Gomez throw into the box, Leicester run clear, van Dijk puts the ball out for a throw, Klopp is loud and fuming. Liverpool fans singing YNWA... TENSE!!! Can the Reds hold on to the lead?

Milner is BOOKED for blocking and bringing down Pereira, another dangerous free kick, to Chilwell on the left, van Dijk whacks it out for a corner, Schmeichel comes up...

The ref has a word with Morgan and Matip... Van Dijk heads the corner away, Keita is down and free kick is given to the Reds eventually, Ndidi is BOOKED for his elbow/push, seconds to go.

Liverpool keep the ball well... AND HOLD ON TO THE LEAD TILL THE FINAL WHISTLE! THAT'S THREE POINTS - despite the embarrassing goal they conceded, the first of the season against Alisson.

Not a nice nor convincing win, but it's the points that count most and it's four wins out of four for the Reds! Boom!

Leicester Goal: Ghezzal 63'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 10', Firmino 45'.

HT stats: LCFC 0-2 LFC
Possession: 47.4%-52.6%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 2-4
Offside: 2-0
Corners: 1-3
Fouls: 1-5
Bookings: 0-0

FT stats: LCFC 1-2 LFC
Possession: 51.2%-48.8%
Shots: 12-10
On target: 5-4
Offside: 3-2
Corners: 4-4
Fouls: 9-12
Bookings: 3-2

Leicester Team: 1 Schmeichel; 3 Chilwell, 15 Maguire, 5 Morgan (c), 14 Pereira; 25 Ndidi (booked 95'), 24 Mendy (booked 88'); 11 Albrighton (8 Iheanacho 61'), 10 Maddison (18 Amartey 82'), 31 Ghezzal (booked 61'); 7 Gray (20 Okazaki 76'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 6 Evans, 12 Ward, 21 Iborra, 28 Fuchs.

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 66 Alexander-Arnold (32 Matip 89'), 12 Gomez, 4 Van Dijk (booked 55'), 26 Robertson; 7 Milner (booked 93'), 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c) (8 Keita 71'); 11 Salah (23 Shaqiri 71'), 10 Mané, 9 Firmino. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 15 Sturridge, 18 Moreno, 20 Lallana, 22 Mignolet.

Referee: Paul Tierney
Man of the match: Joe Gomez
Stadium: The King Power Stadium
Attendance: 32,149

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app and RMC Sport match coverage.

Stubborn Baggies Snatch A Point Late On

Sports - Football - Premier League - WBA 2:2 LIV

West Brom came back from two goals down in the last eleven minutes to make it 2-2 and grab a point back from Liverpool in the early kick-off on Saturday at the Hawthorns.

Danny Ings scored his first Liverpool goal since the 4th October 2015 Merseyside derby to give the Reds the lead just four minutes into the match.

Sadio Mané produced a fine move on the left in the build-up, to cross to Georginio Wijnaldum who set up the former Derby player for the opener.

The Reds had made five changes ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday, whilst the Baggies remained unchanged from their win at Old Trafford last weekend.

The home side had plenty of chances to come back into the match before and after the break but a certain Egyptian spoilt that possibility.

Sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set up Mohamed Salah just over six minutes after coming on, the top scorer bouncing the ball up and past everyone from close range to make it 0-2 to the visitors.

With that goal Salah equalled Luis Suárez’s LFC record of 31 Premier League goals in a single season.

Jake Livermore pulled one back for the bottom side with just over ten minutes to go, netting the rebound off a Loris Karius save from a couple of yards out, the Red keeper not happy.

Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi got away with a couple of reckless tackles, first with a late challenge on Ings earlier on (followed by a punch in the stomach), then elbowing Salah in the buildup to the home side’s goal, referee Stuart Attwell not seeing and/or having any of it!

With a couple of minutes to go, a soft free kick, taken by skipper Chris Brunt on the left, was headed in by Salomón Rondón to make it 2-2 and complete a perfect comeback for Darren Moore’s men.

The caretaker coach could not have asked for a better reaction, Jürgen Klopp’s side never really got on top of things, the German blaming the dry pitch whilst the home side created more of less and grabbed a point back from the Red clutches.

It’s maybe too little too late to avoid relegation for West Brom, but at least gives them some encouragement to look forward to something next season, a side that actually gels and plays together! 

Moore has won five points from his three Premier League games in charge (W1 D2 L0), one more than Alan Pardew won in his last 11 games for the Baggies (W1 D1 L9). 

Meanwhile it was a wake-up call for Liverpool ahead of their European clash against Roma on Tuesday, they have to take more care and concentration at the back to not make all the class and sparks at the front go to waste!

HT Stats: WBA 0-1 LFC

Possession: 30%-70%

Shots: 4-5

On target: 1-2

Corners: 5-4

Fouls: 5-0

FT Stats: WBA 2-2 LFC

Possession: 38%-62%

Shots: 13-9

On target: 6-3

Corners: 7-4

Fouls: 12-5

Yellow cards: 0-1

West Brom Goals: Livermore 79’ & Rondón 88’.

Liverpool Goals: Ings 4’ & Salah 72’.

West Brom Team: 1 Foster; 3 Gibbs (17 Burke 76’), 26 Hegazi, 25 Dawson, 2 Nyom; 14 McClean (6 Evans 71’), 11 Brunt (c), 8 Livermore, 10 Phillips; 19 Rodriguez (4 Robson-Kanu 89’); 9 Rondón. 4-4-1-1

Subs not used: 5 Yacob, 13 Myhill, 20 Krychowiak, 28 Field.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 18 Moreno (booked 69’), 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum; 19 Mané (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (65’), 28 Ings (9 Firmino 65’), 11 Salah (6 Lovren 84’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man of the match: Matt Phillips

Ground: The Hawthorns

Attendance: 24,520

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.

Liverpool Boss It 0-4 At Bournemouth

Sports - Football - Premier League - AFCB 0:4 Liverpool

Liverpool bossed the show and cruised to a 0-4 win at Bournemouth to move up to fourth in the Premier League table on Super Sunday.

Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a bit of magic after hitting the post with a free-kick earlier on.

The Brazilian made it five goals in five games after a fine run, moving too quick for the Bournemouth defenders, before slotting the ball past Asmir Begović.

Dejan Lovren doubled the score for the visitors at the Vitality Stadium soon after with a fine header.

Star man Mohamed Salah made it 0-3 before half-time after Jermain Defoe had hit the post for the home side.

The great Egyptian produced one of his excellent quick runs before netting his 11th goal in 11 games, and his 20th of the season.

The man of the match became the first Liverpool player to score at least 20 league and cup goals in a single season since Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14, and the first to score 20 goals before Christmas since the great legend Ian Rush in 1986-7.

Roberto Firmino got the deserved fourth with a diving header to seal the win 0-4 and extend the Reds' unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions.

The convincing victory was much needed after disappointing draws at home against Everton and West Brom and took Jürgen Klopp's men up to fourth, above Arsenal and Burnley, but still 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City.

Eddie Howe's side meanwhile, stay 16th in the table, only one point above the relegation zone, after their sixth game without a win (3D, 3L).

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last nine league games (6W, 3D), their best run since an 11-match run ended in November 2016.

They are the first team in top-flight history to win four consecutive away games by a margin of at least three goals.

Next for the Reds is a trip to London on Friday night, where they will face Arsenal at the Emirates.

One can only hope they keep the confidence from this win and if they play against the Gunners as they did in the reverse fixture or last season's stunning opener, they should be fine and able to extend that thrashing away record.

Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 20', Lovren 26', Salah 44', Firmino 66'.

Bournemouth Team: 27 Begovic; 15 Smith, 2 Francis (c), 5 Aké (booked 10'), 11 Daniels (3 S Cook 56'); 33 Ibe, 16 L Cook, 6 Surman, 7 Pugh (24 Fraser 45'); 17 King (19 Stanislas 31'); 18 Defoe. 4-4-1-1
Subs not used: 1 Boruc, 4 Gosling, 8 Arter, 9 Afobe.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 12 Gomez, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 26 Robertson; 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum; 11 Salah (20 Lallana 71' (booked 73')), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 76'), 10 Coutinho (28 Ings 87'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 7 Milner, 10 Mané, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

HT Match Stats: AFCB 0-3 LFC
Possession: 45%-55%
Shots: 3-11
On target: 1-5
Corners: 1-2
Fouls: 4-3
Yellow cards: 1-0

FT Match Stats: AFCB 0-4 LFC
Possession: 44%-56%
Shots: 6-21
On target: 2-7
Corners: 2-3
Fouls: 5-10
Yellow cards: 1-1

Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Ground: Vitality Stadium
Attendance: 10,780

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report and Twitter.

HT: Premier League Season Review

Sports - Football - Premier League - HT Season Review

It's been a while since my last sports blog, and with half of the Premier League season gone already, I thought it's about time to write up a little review of the season so far, looking at the winners and losers, and what it could entail and mean for the rest of the season. A lot has changed (or not really).

Main Gainers: 
Southampton and West Ham.

The Liebherr era has seen the Saints climb up the leagues and tables constantly since the lows of 2009 which saw them go into administration and relegated to League One. Two consecutive promotions and four managers later, Southampton are enjoying their third season in the top flight. Flirting with the Champions League qualification places, they have gained most points over the last couple of seasons (16), and their defence has improved most (22 less goals conceded). The question is, whether Ronald Koeman's men can continue the march up the table, or whether/when they reach their peak.

Meanwhile, the Hammers have jumped up a record 16 points compared to this point last season, and 8 points to the season before. Under Sam Allardyce, the Londoners have seen promotion back into the Premier League after just one season out. The bubbles flew much higher than expected, ending their first season back in 10th position, before dropping down three places last season, inviting the critics over Big Sam's tactics and choices. The more surprising it has been how they have bounced back and up again this season, also pushing for the European football qualification places.

Main Losers: 

Everton and West Brom.

Everyone expected the worst for the Toffees after David Moyes' departure ending his 11-year tenure at the club. But the blue side of the Mersey finished one place and nine points better off under Roberto Martinez. The former Wigan Athletic manager surprised most of us and proved he could cope and prove himself in the top half of the table. But the Spaniard definitely seems overloaded this season, his side crashing down 16 points compared to this point last season, 12 to the season before. Doubts have spread over the Spaniard's future, making the January transfer window vital to add to his squad and change the trend.

Compared to last season the Baggies haven't dropped that much, just one point, however, they ended that season 17th, one spot off the drop, and have a massive 16 points less than the season before. So, they don't want to see a repeat of the struggles of last season and it didn't come as a surprise when Alan Irvine received the marching orders this week. Former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has been confirmed to take over the honours and has past and proven experience in Premier League survival and progress. 

Notable Changes (or not really): 

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

It's been all too familiar for the Gunners: long injury list, lack of signings, Arsene Wenger under fire for his complacency. However, the red Londoners are nine points worse off compared to last season and that cannot be ignored. On the other hand, they had the exact same number of points at this stage the season before and still ended up in the top four. So, same old, it seems.

Meanwhile Chelsea have been growing constantly in points and confidence, making progress season by season under Jose Mourinho, sitting comfortably at the top at the moment, six points better off than last season, and being favourites to take the crown at the end of this season. It all depends whether defending champions Manchester City can keep up with them, being two points better off than at this point last season shows they are more than up for it. It will be a close call.

After coming so close last season, Liverpool were expected to compete at the top again this season. But so much has been put and blown into Luis Suarez's exit and Daniel Sturridge's injury, with captain Steven Gerrard under fire, the Reds have been struggling, eight points and 18 goals worse off than at this stage last season. However, looking at the season before, where the SAS were part of the team as well, the Scousers are actually three points better and only two goals worse off. So, it seems to be a bit over-doom-and-gloom and hard on Brendan Rodgers.

And last but not least, Manchester United seem to be the high-flyers and main progress makers compared to last season's misery. Sitting up in third at this season's halfway point, Louis van Gaal has seemingly turned the corner for the Red Devils. But compared to last season at this point, they are only two points better off and 13 goals worse off than David Moyes' men (ten points and 15 goals worse 
than Sir Alex Ferguson's men the season before), which puts a very different spin on things. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the full list of all the Premier League teams, in alphabetical order, comparing points and goals of the last couple of seasons after 19 games to now = how much better or worse they are off at the halfway point of this season compared to the couple of seasons before. 

So, if you read -1, that means that team is 1 point or goal worse off now this season than that season. If you read +2, that means that team is 2 points better off now this season than that season. And so forth. Same principle with goals scored and conceded. If you read 0, that means no difference, they totalled the exact same amount of points or goals both seasons.

And I've added my little prediction how this season will end for each team...

Arsenal:
2012-13: 0 points, -5 goals, +2 conceded, ended 4th on 73 points.
2013-14: -9 points, -3 goals, +5 conceded, ended 4th on 79 points.
2014-15: 4th

Aston Villa:
2012-13: +3 points, -4 goals, -14 conceded, ended 15th on 41 points.
2013-14: +1 point, -7 goals, +3 conceded, ended 15th on 38 points.
2014-15: 15th

Burnley:
2012-13: Championship.
2013.14: Championship.
2014-15: 19th

Chelsea: 
2012-13: +8 points, +2 goals, -4 conceded, ended 3rd on 75 points.
2013-14: +6 points, +6 goals, -5 conceded, ended 3rd on 82 points.
2014:15: 1st

Crystal Palace:
2012-13: Championship.
2013-14: 0 points, +8 goals, +2 conceded, ended 11th on 45 points.
2014-15: 14th

Everton:
2012-13: -12 points, -3 goals, +8 conceded, ended 6th on 63 points.
2013-14: -16 points, -2 goals, +13 conceded, ended 5th on 72 points.
2014-15: 9th

Hull City:
2012-13: Championship.
2013-14: -7 points, -4 goals, +3 conceded, ended 16th on 37 points.
2014-15: 16th

Leicester:
2012-13: Championship.
2013-14: Championship.
2014-15: 20th

Liverpool:
2012-13: +3 points, -2 goals, -1 conceded, ended 7th on 61 points.
2013-14: -8 points, -18 goals, +2 conceded, ended 2nd on 84 points.
2014-15: 6th

Manchester City: 
2012-13: -3 points, +7 goals, +1 conceded, ended 2nd on 78 points.
2013-14: +2 points, -13 goals, -4 conceded, ended 1st on 86 points.
2014-15: 2nd

Manchester United:
2012-13: -10 points, -15 goals, -9 conceded, ended 1st on 89 points.
2013-14: +2 points, -13 goals, -3 conceded, ended 7th on 64 points.
2014-15: 3rd

Newcastle:
2012-13: +6 points, -1 goals, -2 conceded, ended 16th on 41 points.
2013-14: -7 points, -7 goals, +4 conceded, ended 10th on 49 points.
2014-15: 12th

QPR:
2012-13: +8 points, +5 goals, +1 conceded, ended 20th on 25 points.
2013-14: Championship,
2014-15: 13th

Southampton:
2012-13: +16 points, +6 goals, -22 conceded, ended 14th on 41 points.
2013-14: +6 points, +6 goals, -5 conceded, ended 8th on 56 points.
2014-15: 5th

Stoke City:
2012-13: -3 points, +3 goals, +9 conceded, ended 13th on 42 points.
2013-14: +4 points, +3 goals, -6 conceded, ended 9th on 50 points.
2014-15: 10th

Sunderland:
2012-13: -2 points, -4 goals, +3 conceded, ended 17th on 39 points.
2013-14: +6 points, +1 goal, -5 conceded, ended 14th on 38 points.
2014-15: 17th

Swansea:
2012-13: +3 points, -3 goals, 0 conceded, ended 9th on 46 points.
2013-14: +7 points, 0 goals, -2 conceded, ended 12th on 42 points.
2014-15: 11th

Tottenham:
2012-13: -2 points, -10 goals, -1 conceded, ended 5th on 72 points.
2013-14: -3 points, +2 goals, 0 conceded, ended 6th on 69 points.
2014-15: 8th

West Brom: 
2012-13: -16 points, -10 goals, +5 conceded, ended 8th on 49 points.
2013-14: -1 point, -4 goals, +1 conceded, ended 17th on 36 points.
2014-15: 18th

West Ham:
2012-13: +8 points, +8 goals, 0 conceded, ended 10th on 46 points.
2013-14: +16 points, +12 goals, -5 conceded, ended 13th on 49 points.
2014-15: 7th