Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane put Jurgen Klopp’s side two goals ahead as they played at home for the first time this season and for the first time since expanding Anfield’s capacity by 8,500 to 54,000.
Advertisement
Firmino opened scoring for the Reds in the 13th minute when he latched on to James Milner’s ideal pass from the left side and Brazilan forward turned his marker Robert Huth before calmly slotting the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.It was his second goal of the new season.
Leicester got back into the game before the break when Lucas Leiva’s woeful mistake gifted a tap in to Jamie Vardy.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match Liverpool against Leicester City at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday Sept. 10, 2016. “They were a little bit better than us and we didn’t reach the standard we know we can”. “We got the two goals in the first half, but let them back in with some sloppy play from ourselves”.
“We were strong physically, flexible, quick, creative”.
He said that it was “easy” for him to “adapt” his football to the Liverpool side because players such as Daniel Sturridge, Firmino and Lallana are “very, very fantastic footballers” who are easy for him to “play with”.
“The emphasis is on us to go out there and win the game being at home”.
In fifth place, they have a real opportunity to embed themselves in the Champions League bracket.
“We have a Champions League game to look forward to, we will wipe the slate clean and work on that”.
For Liverpool supporters, the victory was especially important given the sense of occasion regarding the opening of the new stand.
Klopp revealed he had brought his players to the redeveloped stadium on Thursday for a training session to help them acclimatise to their new surroundings.
“Liverpool played better than us and deserved to win”, he said.
“We scored to make it 2-1 then I think we might have changed the game”, said Fuchs. One of our strengths last season was, when we lost a match, we had a very good reaction.
The manager added: “It was hard for us tonight”.
Advertisement
Though Liverpool have acquitted themselves reasonably well against the big boys over the first month or so of the season, Chelsea will be a different proposition, and the manager knows it. Arsenal and Tottenham are opponents who can typically be expected to play football rather than seek to frustrate.
