Maresca Proud Of City’s Performance
- The Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool was analysed by Enzo Maresca
- Leicester City took the lead at Anfield but were eventually beaten 3-1
- Kasey McAteer scored before Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota all netted
- The Manager enjoyed the way his side played in the third-round tie
The Foxes seized the initiative early on at Anfield on Wednesday evening, taking the lead once Kasey McAteer slid the ball home. It lasted until just after the break, when Cody Gakpo levelled and, once Dominik Szoboszlai put the Reds ahead, there was no way back for Maresca’s men. Diogo Jota then added a late third.
There was plenty for the visiting Foxes be positive about, however, in spite of their cup journey ending at the third-round stage, competing for 90 minutes against top Premier League opposition.
“To continue in the way we want to play on the ball, off the ball, I’m very proud of them,” the 43-year-old reflected post-match. “In the game we were 1-0 up, we finished the first half 1-0. The results are very important for sure, but for me tonight the most important part was to see how we come here and play face to face against a big team.
“But the apart from the goal, I think we played in the way we wanted to play and the way we are working every day, the most important thing was to come here against this opponent, in this stadium, and don’t change the way we want to play. It’s always a chance to learn something.”
The Italian admitted that the timing of Liverpool’s equaliser was far from ideal, coming just after the interval, which gave the home side the impetus to go on and turn the contest on its head.
“Probably yes, [it wasn’t ideal],” City’s Manager admitted. “But as I said, even when we were 1-0 up, I was not thinking about the score, I was more focused to see how we adapt in this stadium against this opponent because we need to remember that we are a Championship club at this moment. We faced them face to face, which was very good.”
A chance for several members of the squad to gain minutes on the pitch, Patson Daka and Harry Souttar made their first appearances of the season, while Souttar’s centre-back partner Conor Coady was handed a debut following injury.
“Absolutely, Harry Souttar was very good,” Maresca concluded. “Conor [Coady] in his first game was very good. Pat (Patson Daka) also came in, in the second half, and he was very good. So yes, I’m happy. As I said many times, the season is very long and we need a big squad, so I’m happy for them.”