Leicester City v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective
The intensity and the high press was prevalent early on and it led to numerous spurned chances, but as soon as Liverpool managed to assert control over the game, both press and intensity dropped off. They were getting the ball quickly back into play, keeping the tempo high in terms of throw ins and retrieving the ball and restarting play but once the ball was in play, there was a gradual easing of the tempo as the game went on.
The problem was that it was all a little easy, Leicester offered so little real threat other than throwing it down their left and attacking Bradley, who was having a nightmare against Mavididi. But it mattered little as they were so easy to cut through, Liverpool were able to get at them at will. For all the, bizarre, praise Thomas at left-back for the Foxes was getting from the commentary team, Salah had so many chances to score himself and created a few too – which tells me Thomas did not have a good game against him. Understandable, Salah is a world class player, but it is just very annoying to have commentators raving like he was vintage Paolo Maldini shutting down his winger.
Despite all the chances they were making, it was beginning to look like it was going to boil down to an individual error for either team to win it. Which could have come at either end, with Konate playing like he had his boots on the wrong feet, in particular. The lack of a genuine centre-forward was causing real problems for Liverpool in terms of taking their chances, Diaz was not getting into the right areas and Jota was anonymous after coming on.
It was the substitutions of Alexander-Arnold and Elliott that changed the game. Elliott’s movement and vision was causing Leicester problems and creating space for others, particularly Alexander-Arnold. He made full use of that space. Those two saw Leicester drop deeper and deeper, until it led to Alexander-Arnold hitting the winner, apparently his first goal with his left foot.
The worry is that Liverpool were so ridiculously profligate, some of the chances seemed easier to score from but somehow they failed to score more than one goal. At least the game was a bit more entertaining, with Liverpool playing more like the early part of the season and dominating the game. But it highlights the need of a striker for next season. The performance, the profligacy, none of it was really important at this stage. All that mattered here was getting the three points, to both teams, but the key was Liverpool, as they have so often this season, found a way to get them. When the chips are down, Liverpool have done that all season, in the Premier League anyway. They constantly find a way to get the points. It has not always been pretty, but it has been effective and it leaves just one more win to clinch a 20th league title.
Leicester City
The Foxes were very disappointing, as they have been since van Nistelrooij took charge, in my opinion. They play some lovely pretty, passing football at times, but they are passive, especially when they should have been fighting for their life in the Premier League. It does not help them having a geriatric Vardy up front, but the team itself is far too nice, apart from Vardy, who has probably never been called nice in his entire life. It must be said that seeing them go down was enjoyable just to get rid of that thoroughly dislikeable character out of the Prem once more. You just wonder how much longer they can persist with him, when he is a passenger up front for them. It does seem some at the club still hold him in high regard for the Premier League title they won, forgetting how he has been the thorn in the side of every manager since, forcing multiple ones out of the club, even Ranieri who led them to that shock title win.
It is that passivity that saw them sink without trace. They have no fight, with players who have no real heart and are playing without real desire. They just did not care enough and that is why they flopped so badly and why they did not offer up any real threat to Liverpool. Sad to say, but the Premier League will be better without them in it as they did nothing to deserve to stay up. That is even without mentioning their financial doping to get up in the first place (and not for the first time).
Liverpool
Alisson – bit of an easy game, very little for him to do.
Bradley – he had a mare. His body shape was all wrong and he was stood too far off Mavididi, allowing him the freedom of the flank. He set up to allow a very poor winger to run him, never once putting himself in a position to force Mavididi to have to worry about him. Mavididi has shown himself to be out of his depth in the Prem and just needed to be shut down, reducing him to his flicks and tricks that have no effect. Bradley has the pace to keep up with him, so there was no need to stand so far away, he could get closer without having to fear being left for dead. Everything good Leicester did came from that side because of it. Hopefully it will be a good learning experience for Bradley. He was playing like he was facing a Doku or Adama Traore, someone with so much pace that you have to stand off or just be left behind. So you stand off them, give them space and show them the flank to allow them to run down it, knowing that they are poor at playing the ball across and will likely launch it into the crowd. He has not got that kind of pace and is a better crosser, his weakness is his tendency to want to do fancy flicks and tricks that look pretty but are of no use. So you need to get tight and make him try to beat you, to use those ineffective moves and it usually leads to a turnover of possession.
Konate – an odd performance, he was decent defensively, but his touch was horrible. The amount of times he sliced a clearance or let his touch get away from him was shocking. He does seem to suffer from concentration issues.
van Dijk – a much improved performance from the captain. He has been shakey in recent weeks but he was able to stroll through this game and still play some of those raking passes that he is known for.
Tsimikas – decent game, his underlapping runs work much better with Gakpo than Diaz as Gakpo likes to draw out wide and then use the space created by Tsimikas’s run to cut in and drive at the box.
Gravenberch – difficult to judge his game as Leicester’s midfield is a bit of a non-entity, but he did well. He was given a bit more time and space than usual, probably a bit too much if anything, as he is at his best when under pressure and turning away from a marker to create himself space to attack.
Szoboszlai – linked up well in the attack and even, finally, hit one from range, which nearly ended up as a goal. It was not really the game for him, as Leicester, despite their need for the points, never really came out of defence, so there was no need for his prodigious running power to chase back and help out.
Mac Allister – had a very good game, popping up everywhere. I would say he was probably the man of the match.
Salah – his performance just lacked a finish. So many chances, he really should have scored one.
Gakpo – not at his best, though he does work well with Tsimikas.
Diaz – a bit anonymous as a striker, though you can never fault his workrate. He just does not get into the right positions enough and leaves the team lacking a focal point to play off. He was much better once he went back to the left.
Jota – replaced Gakpo in the 60th minute. Offered little to nothing, other than wasting a couple of chances. He is really not working out in this system, it does not play to his strengths and it is clear he is lacking confidence.
Alexander-Arnold – was brought on in the stead of Bradley in the 71st minute. Scored the winner and produced a celebration and after-match interview that has created more column inches than anything else. Is it just me who would rather actually just read about the game and being 3 points away from the title, rather than all the nonsense from people trying to interpret everything with regards to his contract?
Elliott – replaced Szoboszlai in the 71st minute. He created so much space with clever movement. Added to that, he was willing to shoot and attempt creative passes, which forced the opposition back, allowing more space for Alexander-Arnold and Salah to operate.
Jones – came on in the 93rd minute, taking the place of Diaz. Worked hard, but never really got into the game out there on the left.
Written by Tris Burke April 23 2025 00:11:29
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