EPL 2016-17: Liverpool 4-1 Leicester City - Player Ratings
Liverpool beat defending champions Leicester City 4-1 in a dominant display in the first home game of the season at the newly renovated Anfield.
Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane scored for the Reds before Jamie Vardy pounced on a blunder from Lucas, to ensure Leicester went into half-time 2-1 down and in with a chance.
However, a superb strike from Adam Lallana and a second goal by Firmino in the second half put the game beyond Leicester’s reach. The win lifts Liverpool to 5th in the league table after 4 games, while Leicester drop to 15th place.
Now let’s take a look at the player ratings for the match.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 6.5/10
The Belgian shot-stopper started ahead of a fit-again Loris Karius in goal. He did not have much work to do in the beginning before an ill-timed pass to Lucas led to Vardy grabbing an easy goal.
He missed a couple of punches in the game against Robert Huth and Jamie Vardy and was lucky not to be punished. Barring that, he had a decent game and did well to save Vardy’s shot on goal in the second-half.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10
The 25-year old spent most of the first half supporting the attack and did well to deal with Ahmed Musa’s threat in the second half. His delivery into the box was good and made good runs supporting Mane.
Overall, a good industrious outing for the right-back.
Joel Matip – 7/10
The 6’ 5” centre-half made his Premier League home debut and was calm and assured throughout the game. He dealt well with the threat of the Leicester attack, including a moment where he made presence felt when competing with Jamie Vardy in the second half.
Lucas Leiva – 6/10
Lucas started at centre-back in place of Dejan Lovren, who suffered a bruised eye in training on Friday. He gifted the ball to Jamie Vardy for Leicester’s goal and had another similar hiccup in the second half.
He recovered well from the howler and gave a solid performance in the second half, as Liverpool dealt with increased threat from the Foxes in the second half.
James Milner – 7/10
Milner started at left-back ahead of Alberto Moreno again and the English player continues to impress in his new position. He had a decent game, including a well-timed assist to Roberto Firmino for the first goal.
Jordan Henderson – 8/10
The Liverpool captain delivered a top drawer performance, full of energy and industry as he played as the deepest-lying midfielder for more than an hour, and then further ahead on the introduction of Kevin Stewart.
His awareness and reading of the game in his new role continue to improve as he nicked away the ball from Leicester attackers and played two delightful passes in the lead up to the 2nd and 4th goals. He also had a chance and should have scored from Firmino’s cutback in the second half.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
The Dutch midfielder had one of his better outings as he worked with Henderson to win the midfield battle. He did well to lay the assist to Lallana’s goal – his previous assist was also to the same player against Arsenal on the opening day.
He was substituted in the second half for Kevin Stewart as Jurgen Klopp looked to protected his side’s lead.
Adam Lallana – 7.5/10
The English international, fresh from scoring his first ever goal for England, had an average first half as he struggled to impose himself on the game but scored an absolute screamer in the second half to restore Liverpool’s two-goal cushion.
His high pressing was evident throughout the match and so was his guile and dribbling ability, which improved as the game wore on.
He looks revitalised under Jurgen Klopp.
Sadio Mane – 9/10
The Senegalese forward remains the vital cog in this Liverpool attack and he demonstrated why Liverpool were worried when he was substituted as a precaution on national duty last week.
His pace, work-rate, flair and directness had Leicester defence in all sorts of problems for the entire match.
He took his goal perfectly and then set up Firmino for the 4th goal by being the quickest to reach Henderson’s ball ahead of Kasper Schmeichel and squared it for the Brazilian to finish. He would have had another goal if not for Schmeichel’s wonderful save.
Overall, Mane was one of the best players of the match and already looks to be a top signing for Liverpool.
Roberto Firmino – 9.5/10
Firmino started on the left side of attack for this match and put on a Man of the Match display, showcasing why this is his best position.
With his silken touch, creativity and end product, Firmino scored 2 goals and should have had an assist as well, if not for some superb goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel.
The attacking midfield role is his best position as he showed in the game, as he drove on from midfield, taking on opposition defenders, won balls in the opposition half and was involved in goalscoring as well as goal creation.
Daniel Sturridge – 8.5/10
The 27-year old forward gave one of his best all-round displays in recent times, to show why he is still the best striker at the club. He made the run that opened up space for Firmino’s goal and then executed a clever back-heel to set up Mane for the second goal.
He should have had a goal of his own when Mane set him up after a brilliant move, but the shot was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Overall, Sturridge linked very well in attack and showed signs of recapturing his 2013-14 season form.
Substitutes
Phillipe Coutinho – 6/10
He did not start, owing to his travel with the national team, and came on for Sturridge with the match truly in Liverpool’s hands. He played some neat passes including a delightful first time pass to Mane.
Kevin Stewart – 6/10
Stewart was sent on to ensure that Liverpool seal the 3 points without any hiccups and he did just that.
Alberto Moreno – NA
Moreno came on at the end of the match and did not have enough time to make an impact.
Leicester City
Kasper Schmeichel – 7/10
The Leicester goalkeeper was involved throughout the game with Liverpool’s unrelenting attack testing him time and again.
He cannot be blamed for any of the goals and, in fact, pulled a few top drawer saves, especially against Sturridge and Mane, to give Leicester a slim chance of recovery before Firmino killed it with a 4th goal at the end.
Danny Simpson – NA
The right-back picked up a knock and was replaced by Luis Fernandez in the 34th minute.
Robert Huth – 6/10
The former Stoke defender had a tough time dealing with Liverpool’s attack and was also booked for a foul on Lucas in the second half. He was, however, a constant menace in Liverpool’s penalty box and came pretty close to scoring with a looping header that bounced off the crossbar.
Wes Morgan – 6/10
The Leicester captain had a torrid time in defence along with Robert Huth as he lunged into tackles in an average team performance.
Christian Fuchs – 5/10
The Leicester endured a tough time dealing with Sadio Mane and Nathaniel Clyne for the entire match and this will be a performance to forget.
Daniel Amartey – 5/10
The Ghanaian international was overrun in midfield by the Liverpool midfield, and a yellow card in the first half meant he threaded a cautious line for the rest of the game.
Danny Drinkwater – 5.5/10
Danny Drinkwater struggled to take control of midfield, as Liverpool attacked in numbers. He had a good chance to score from a corner delivered by Mahrez but failed to convert.
Riyad Mahrez – 6.5/10
Mahrez was the only player who looked like creating a goal for Leicester as he toyed with the Liverpool defence. He could not provide the spark that the Foxes needed in the match and faded as the match went on.
Marc Albrighton – 5/10
The 26-year old winger was sparsely involved in the match as most of the Foxes’ attack was directed from their right wing. He worked hard throughout until he was replaced by Ulloa, as Leicester chased the game.
Shinji Okazaki – 6/10
Okazaki’s pressure on Lucas led to the misplaced pass and an easy tap-in for Vardy. Apart from that, he did not contribute much to the Leicester attack, as Liverpool dominated the game.
He was replaced at half-time by Ahmed Musa to give the Foxes more pace and directness.
Jamie Vardy – 7/10
The England international showed his poacher’s instinct, as he scored from an absolute gift of a ball from Lucas.
He was isolated for most of the first half and fared better in the second half. He had a good chance to score, after being set up by Mahrez, but the shot was saved by Mignolet.
Substitutes
Luis Hernandez – 5/10
He was brought on in the first half to replace an injured Danny Simpson at right-back. Like the rest of the defence, he did not have a major impact on the proceedings.
Ahmed Musa – 5.5/10
The Nigerian forward came on at half-time in place of Shinji Okazaki to provide pace and directness to the Leicester attack. He was lively initially in attack, combining with Vardy, before fading away with the rest of the team as the match neared completion.
Leonardo Ulloa – 5/10
The Argentine came on in place of Marc Albrighton as Leicester needed goals but did not provide the impact or output that was expected of him.