SAN FRANCISCO, November 22, (THEWILL) –Â English Premier League champions Liverpool put their injury concerns aside and cruised to a 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday as they set a new club record of 64 top-flight home matches unbeaten and Diogo Jota continued a remarkable streak of his own at Anfield.
German manager Jurgen Klopp was missing a crop of key first-team players. Centre back Joe Gomez, central midfielder Jordan Henderson and forward Mohamed Salah were among the latest to join their lengthy absentee list.
However, the hosts showed the mettle of champions as they dealt with the threat posed by Leicester with impressive ease considering their circumstances.
Although the visitors had won all four of their away Premier League games this season, they never looked like the side to end the impressive streak of the Reds once they fell behind to Jonny Evans’ unfortunate own goal, which was the sixth of his top-flight career.
In fact, the positive start of the Reds belied the depleted nature of their squad. Sadio Mane showed the extent of the threat they posed early when he headed into the side-netting and Curtis Jones tested Kasper Schmeichel from a tight angle. Then, Evans put into his own net from a corner in the 21st minute.
The hosts also got a clear warning soon after although Leicester squandered a glorious chance to draw level. Left-winger Harvey Barnes shot agonisingly wide of the top-right corner first-time from a Jamie Vardy cut-back.
What appeared to be the start of a Leicester resurgence did not materialise. Liverpool, instead, doubled their lead just before the break. Jota glanced an Andrew Robertson cross into the net for his own piece of Anfield history.
Although Liverpool’s injury crisis added Naby Keita to the pile for what could be a hamstring problem early in the second half, they continued to dominate and carve out chances throughout.
Keeper Kasper Schmeichel produced a strong save from the marauding Mane while Firmino, who had the keeper beaten, hit the goal frame with a close-range header.
Though he had scored only two goals in his previous 23 league games, Firmino struck the post again 13 minutes from time in a remarkable sequence that also saw the sharp reflexes of Schmeichel turn a Mane effort on to the woodwork.
But it was time for the Brazil international’s misfortune to finally end. Late on, he powered a towering header beyond Schmeichel, as Liverpool ensured they ended the day second in the table.
For their next engagements, they turn their attentions back to European football in midweek. Liverpool host Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday while Leicester face a Europa League trip to Sporting Braga a day later.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
