First Loss In Four Games For The Foxes
After an impressive showing in midweek against Fleetwood Town, the Foxes were tasked with taking on the league leaders, who heading into the game had won all three of their opening Premier League fixtures.
Claude Puel made eight changes to his side, with Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal making his first Premier League start having scored his maiden City goal last time out in the Carabao Cup.
After a fine stop from Kasper Schmeichel to deny Roberto Firmino inside five minutes, Egypt international Mohamed Salah side-footed the rebound wide as Liverpool’s impressive attack carved out the first opportunity of the game.
Jürgen Klopp’s men continued to flow forward and when left-back Andrew Robertson burst through the Foxes defence and cut the ball back to Sadio Mané, the Senegal playmaker stabbed home to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Midway through the first half, Liverpool stopper Alisson pulled off an excellent save to deny Demarai Gray, who operated upfront for Puel’s men.
It was Gray’s England Under-21s team-mate James Maddison who would next go close, as his powerful shot flew just over Alisson’s bar on 33 minutes.
However, despite City pushing for an equaliser, the Reds made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time as Brazilian frontman Firmino nodded in James Milner’s corner.
The Foxes came out fighting after the break and only a superb last-ditch block from Joe Gomez prevented Maddison from halving the deficit on 52 minutes.
Chances for skipper Wes Morgan and Maddison followed, but it was the introduction of Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho on the hour mark that changed the game.
Moments after coming on, he won the ball off Alisson before squaring to Ghezzal, who took a touch before firing in to become the first player to score against Liverpool in the Premier League this term.
With a sold out King Power Stadium rocking after Ghezzal’s goal, the Foxes went in search of an all-important equaliser in an attempt to extent their unbeaten run to four games.
However, despite piling on the pressure, the hosts could not find the back of the net for the second time in the game and Liverpool returned to Merseyside with all three points.
Major moment
On top despite Sadio Mané’s early effort, Leicester City had several goalscoring chances as they tried to level matters in the first half.
Demarai Gray produced the best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, as his low effort was turned away by ‘keeper Alisson on 23 minutes.
However, Roberto Firmino headed home with just seconds of the first half to play and that proved to be a huge blow for Claude Puel’s outfit.
Who impressed?
French midfielder Papy Mendy has started three of Leicester City’s four Premier League games this term and put in another fine display against Liverpool on Saturday.
He was there to receive the ball off City’s defenders and offload to the attack, while he also broke up play when Liverpool flowed forward in numbers.
Mendy was one of a number of Leicester stars who produced a solid performance against the Premier League’s pacesetters.
Where do we stand?
Following the slender loss to Liverpool, the Foxes remain seventh in the table ahead of the weekend’s remaining Premier League games.
Coming up…
After the first international break of the season, City take on AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Saturday 15 September (3pm BST kick-off).