Leicester v Liverpool: Three areas the Reds must improve to get title tilt back on track
Ian Rush, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler…what Jurgen Klopp would do for one of these clinical finishers of old after Liverpool misfired in front of goal again in Tuesday’s defeat to Leicester.
Liverpool mustered 21 shots on goal against Craig Shakespeare’s side, to follow up 35 efforts in the 1-1 draw with Burnley at the weekend, with goalscoring becoming a recurring problem for the Reds.
Klopp’s men travel to the King Power Stadium for the second time in a week on Saturday, having exited the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 defeat to the Foxes.
We take a look at three areas of Tuesday night’s game where Liverpool will look to improve.
Set-piece defending
Substitute Shinji Okazaki made the breakthrough for Leicester on 65 minutes, and it came in a fashion all too familiar for Liverpool supporters this season.
Having failed to clear from a corner, Joe Gomez played several Foxes attackers onside, the ball finding its way to Okazaki who had time to pick his spot, with Klopp less than impressed post-match.
“That we concede like this, that makes me really, really sick,” said Klopp. “You cannot play football and do that.”
No doubt the team will be put through their defensive drills in training this week and will target a solid performance at the back on Saturday.
Missed opportunities
The Merseysiders will have been pleased to dominate Tuesday’s game, enjoying 70 percent of the possession and Phillipe Coutinho proving just why Barcelona valued him so highly.
The Brazilian was withdrawn at half-time and the travelling Reds fans can expect to see a lot more of him in the revenge mission on Saturday, but if Liverpool are to triumph then it’s their shooting boots they need to find.
New boys Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke both missed good opportunities but they weren’t the only culprits, Okazaki showed them how it’s done in the second half and Islam Slimani’s long-range effort displayed just what Liverpool were missing.
Bring back the big guns
There were plenty of bright sparks for Liverpool at the King Power, Coutinho and Andy Robertson chief among them, with Robertson marauding down the left time after time only to see his crosses unconverted.
There will be no Sadio Mane on Saturday but Klopp will no doubt bring back James Milner, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and the electric early-season hero Mo Salah.
But Liverpool have now failed to win in four and unless they start taking their chances it will be Craig Shakespeare celebrating again.