Premier League 2017/18 - Leicester 2-3 Liverpool Player Ratings
Philippe Coutinho proved why Liverpool were so keen to resist the advances of Barcelona in the summer as he inspired his side to a 3-2 victory at the King Power Stadium.
The Brazilian laid on the cross for Mohamed Salah to break the deadlock 15 minutes in, before curling a sublime free-kick into the top corner eight minutes later.
Shinji Okazaki bundled the ball home just before the interval to get his side back in it, but Jordan Henderson looked to have made sure of the win in the 68th minute.
However, Jamie Vardy replied almost instantly, before then missing a late penalty to snatch a dramatic equaliser.
Let’s have a look at the player ratings from the King Power.
Leicester
Kasper Schmeichel - 6/10
Should not have been beaten at his near post for the opener, but could do nothing about the other goals. His distribution was wayward at times.
Ben Chilwell - 5/10
No Leicester player gave the ball away as much as the young full-back at the King Power. He lost Salah for the opener, too. Chilwell will hope to have better evenings.
Harry Maguire - 6/10
Inadvertently set up Okazaki for his goal, but gave the ball away in the buildup to the third Liverpool goal, leaving himself exposed upfield.
Wes Morgan - 6/10
Positioning let him down on occasion and struggled with the movement from Liverpool’s forwards. Lack of pace can be his undoing.
Danny Simpson - 6/10
Had his work cut out dealing with Coutinho, and could have done more to prevent cross for Liverpool opener.
Andy King - 6/10
A 68.4 percent distribution rate shows just how much King struggled with Liverpool. Improved as the match wore on.
Riyad Mahrez - 5/10
Time and again Leicester turned to their creative inspiration, but he couldn’t deliver. Wasted too many opportunities to get the ball into the box. Still, was a surprise to see him substituted.
Marc Albrighton - 7/10
The opposite to Mahrez. Whipped nine crosses into the middle, and caused Liverpool plenty of problems from set pieces. His delivery for the second goal was very difficult to deal with.
Wilfred Ndidi - 5/10
Poor performance from a player who is usually a reliable anchor in midfield. Had an even worse pass completion rate than King. Provided little protection for back four.
Shinji Okazaki - 6/10
As industrious as ever, and showed great commitment to get his goal. His link-up play was missing from his performance. Does the Japan international ever play a full 90 minutes?
Jamie Vardy 5/10
Got his side back in it with second half goal, but wasted the chance to complete the turnaround. Won’t have hit many worse penalties in his entire career.
Substitutes
Demarai Gray - 7/10
Injected plenty of energy into Leicester attack and helped lay out the second goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho - 6/10
Failed to make a difference. It is not working out for him at Leicester so far.
Islam Slimani - 6/10
Another who couldn’t get on the end of several late crosses.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet - 5/10
Should be heralded as the hero after saved his seventh penalty in 15 in the Premier League, but the rest of his play was clumsy and borderline calamitous. Needlessly gave away the penalty in the first place. It is surprising that he went for the ball with his feet.
Alberto Moreno - 6/10
Only Coutinho made more key passes, and no player in red completed more clearances, His defending is still too reckless, however.
Joe Gomez - 5/10
Lost possession 27 times in the match. Still very raw and it is unclear what his best position is. Needs to add composure to his game.
Joel Matip - 6/10
No Liverpool player gained possession more often than Matip, but his passing was unusually lacking on occasion.
Dejan Lovren - 6/10
Won all seven of his aerial duels that he competed in, but was another whose performance suffered due to poor passing.
Jordan Henderson - 7/10
Brilliantly taken goal. When all else seemed chaotic, Henderson showed an incredibly calm head as he looked to have made sure of a comfortable finish. No Liverpool player made more tackles.
Georginio Wijnaldum - 5/10
Lacks that killer final pass that other players have. Only made 34 touches, which for a midfielder is very low. Needs to show more.
Emre Can - 6/10
Unlucky to see rasping effort come off the post in the first half. No Liverpool player fired in more crosses, but they weren’t always accurate.
Philippe Coutinho - 8/10
A class apart. Liverpool owe the result to the Brazilian. His cross for the opener was inch perfect, while he free-kick goal was outstanding. Has looked sluggish since returning from injury, but proved he is very much back and firing on all cylinders. Priceless.
Mohamed Salah - 7/10
Awful miss in the first half, but made amends by steering a back post cross into the net from a tight angle. On the other hand, it was yet another game with very poor pass completion for Salah.
Robert Firmino - 5/10
21 touches before being rightfully hauled off. Not his usual fluid self, and movement not as sharp as normal.
Substitutes
Daniel Sturridge - 6/10
Delayed the pass superbly for Henderson’s third but otherwise largely a bystander.
James Milner - 6/10
Added stability late in the game.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6/10
Offered little respite for his side.