Liverpool: Christian Benteke’s second-half strike made all the difference as Liverpool beat Premier League leaders Leicester City in a 1-0 victory at Anfield on Saturday.
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Yesterday’s defeat, the first time Leicester had failed to score since they visited Sunderland in May, will surely mark another watershed, whether it proves to be another mere hiccup or signs of something more debilitating. “We knew if we stayed concentrated we would get our chances”.
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Liverpool still have a fairly lengthy injury list, with the latest additions being defender Škrtel and midfielder Milner.
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Despite the arrival of Klopp, Liverpool is still having an average season and they are now ninth in the standings and have five points fewer than teams who occupy European positions with hopes of winning the title as good as gone.
Klopp’s side can moved up to seventh with a win today while league leaders Leicester City can increase the gap between themselves and Arsenal so five points. Credit Liverpool for that as the Reds maintained a tight grip in midfield and produced a strong performance.
“I am not happy but it is OK”. Sooner or later we had to lose.
Liverpool are without a win in their last three League games including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Watford FC last weekend. They finish their holiday schedule at home to Bournemouth next Saturday.
However, Leicester’s resolute defence has been a highlight of their season and Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, back in the side after a hamstring problem, both remained strong at the back.
Benteke had replaced Belgian compatriot Divock Origi after the young striker appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in the first half, and Klopp was left dismayed as he saw yet another member of his attacking department succumb to debilitating knocks.
When you have Riyad Mahrez you always have a potent goal threat; some super individual play from him in the 42nd minute almost opened the scoring but he slipped when he shot and Simon Mignolet managed to get two palms to the ball. Jamie Vardy, the Foxes’ goal-machine this year, was not a factor, managing only a looping header toward goal that never troubled Mignolet.
In the dying minutes of the match Benteke should have grabbed his second. If they’re to continue their fairy tale campaign in this match, Leicester will have to defy the history books once more.
With Vardy and Mahrez taken off, it was time for the direct stuff from Leicester, as Christian Fuchs sent an assault of long throws towards the Liverpool goal, causing distress in the home defence.
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Liverpool eventually settled down again though and Benteke headed just over from Henderson’s right-wing cross. That goal did the business for Klopp’s men, who overcame the in-form visitors to record their first win in all competitions since 2 December.
