Liverpool 1-1 Leicester - Points dropped but The Reds extend their lead at the top! - Match Review

Before the game had even kicked off at Anfield on Wednesday Liverpool were handed a massive boost to their title challenge when main rivals Manchester City suffered a 2-1 defeat against former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez' Newcastle side. That unexpected bonus meant Liverpool had the chance to pull 7 points clear with a win, however with a long list of injuries as well as Milner suspended and with the snow falling quite heavily in the lead up to the game it was always going to be a difficult task.

Virgil van Dijk managed to overcome his injury problems to maintain his place in the hear of Liverpool's defence however Fabinho was only considered fit enough for a place on the bench which meant Klopp had to get creative in order to complete his defensive line. Joel Matip filled in as the Dutchman's centre half partner with Andy Robertson on the left while it was Jordan Henderson who Klopp selected to cover over on the right. Naby Keita was selected for the first time as a deep central midfielder since arriving at Liverpool and was joined by Gini Wijnaldum. Xerdan Shaqiri took up position on the right wing with Mane on the opposite side and Firmino in the middle playing behind Salah up top. Claude Puel was able to name his main central defender too with Harry Maguire passing his late fitness test to play alongside Johnny Evans and Puel made two changes from the defeat to Wolves bringing in Mark Albrighton and James Madison.

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The snowfall just before kick-off made it seem like it was going to be a tough game for Liverpool as the ball was being held up slightly as they played it around on the floor. Despite the conditions, Liverpool got off to a perfect start breaking the deadlock within just 2 minutes. After a spell of knocking the ball around between the defenders and midfield, they eventually edged further and further up the pitch until it was played wide to Robertson who knocked it into the box for Firmino. The Brazillian stepped over the ball leaving it for Sadio Mane who continued his run into the box, with Leicester's players still closing in on Firmino it allowed plenty of space for Mane to eye up the goal and roll the ball sweetly into the bottom corner of the goal. It was a really great start and Liverpool had the chance to add to it further just a few minutes later when Salah lobbed the ball over to Firmino at the back post, he brought the ball down with his chest and was able to fire off a good shot directing the ball into the same far corner Mane had previously scored in but this time Kasper Schmeichel was able to get down and prevent it from going in.

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Since arriving in the summer Alisson has been sensational in Liverpool's goal, receiving plaudits not just for his clean sheets and stopping ability but also for his distribution. One of his few mistakes came against Leicester earlier in the season and he made a couple against them again in this game in a rare off night for the Brazil keeper. After receiving a backpass from Henderson he gave it straight back rather than kicking it clear, his pass was misplaced and Madison was able to intercept before being knocked off balance by Henderson as he looked to make his way into the box, the referee let Liverpool off the hook by waving play on but it looked to be a foul right on the edge of the penalty area. Moments later Alisson was once again given the ball at his feet and he took a moment too long before clearing it and was closed down by Jamie Vardy, his block deflected the clearance to Albrighton who found Madison at the back post with a cross but somehow he blew the chance to head it into the net and saw the ball go all the way across the face of the goalmouth and out for a goal kick.

With around 5 minutes left to play in the half came one of the big talking points in the match. Robertson picked the ball up deep inside Liverpool's half and carried it forward beating a few Leicester players before playing a through ball forward where Sadio Mane was ready to chase. Evans attempted to intercept the ball but his feet seemed to get muddled underneath him and he completely missed the ball, Mane was clear through with nothing to stop him from getting to the loose ball until he was taken out by Harry Maguire who stuck his boot onto the back of the Liverpool forwards ankle. Denying a clear goalscoring opportunity is supposed to be punished by a red card and with Mane through in acres of space with Mo Salah making a run on the opposite side, this was surely as clear a goalscoring opportunity as it gets. However, the referee saw it differently and let Maguire off with just a yellow card.

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The half was coming to a close and Liverpool seemed to be hanging on hoping for the referee to blow his whistle with pressure mounting. Into the 1 minute of injury time, Ricardo Pereira picked the ball up down the right wing, he carried it forward but seemed to be well contained by Wijnaldum. That was until Robertson, making his way back from an attack made an unnecessary and clumsy challenge conceding a free kick. Madison played the ball in and it was initially cleared away but only as far as Chillwell who headed it back over to where Harry Maguire was lurking at the back post and the Leicester defender tucked it away to bring the score level. It wasn't the best defending from Liverpool's defence who left Maguire with all the space in the world, but it was a cruel twist of fate that the man who should really have been sent off was able to remain on and score to make it 1-1.

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Leicester began the second half strongly and within minutes of the restart were awarded another freekick in a similar position to the one they'd scored from earlier. The ball was sent over and once again Maguire found himself in acres of space completely unmarked, he headed the ball down back across goal where it deflected off Firmino and forced a good reaction save from Alisson to keep the score level. The game settled a little and Liverpool began to regain more control, around the hour mark Liverpool launched another attack and came the 2nd big talking point of the game. Keita and Firmino linked up well with a nice one-two move that saw Keita drive into the Leicester penalty area, he looked to strike the ball at goal with the outside of his right foot when he was sent tumbling to the floor when Ricardo Pereira pushed him from behind as well as stood on his left foot mid-swing. The referee was positioned perfectly to view the incident yet somehow signalled that there was no foul denying Liverpool what in my opinion was a stone wall penalty.

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The final half an hour of the game played out with Liverpool having most of the possession but unable to break down the resilient Leicester defence, nothing Liverpool attempted seemed to work most attacks failing to even lead to an attempt at goal and when they did Schmeichel was up to the task of stopping them. Leicester arguably looked the most likely to score as they remained a constant threat with their swift counter-attacks whenever they got chance. Neither side did end up finding a second goal however and the game ended with things all square. Liverpool fans can feel hard done by when it comes to the refereeing decisions but also pleased that it wasn't actually much worse as this was a game they could have very easily ended up losing.

The point moves Liverpool on to 61 points with 24 games played and extends their lead over City who is 5 behind on 54, it would have been wonderful to win and move 7 clear however if you would have offered any Liverpool fan the chance to be 5 points clear with 14 games remaining they would have snapped your hand off. Liverpool are next in action on February 4th for some Monday Night Football away against West Ham.