- Leicester City beaten by Liverpool at Anfield on Friday
- The Premier League fixture ended in a 2-1 reverse scoreline
- Brendan Rodgers gave his post-match assessment
- He told LCFC TV that the display was much improved
The travelling Foxes seized the initiative early on in their final fixture of the calendar year, netting inside four minutes at Anfield, but were pushed back courtesy of a bizarre seven minute period in the lead up to the break when defender Wout Faes scored two own goals.
Speaking to LCFC TV in the aftermath of City’s last Premier League match in 2022, the Northern Irishman saw vast improvements from the Newcastle United game four days earlier, even though the end result went the same way.
“I thought we were much better than what we were the other day,” he began. “We started the game how we wanted, and the plan was working really well. You can’t plan for the two goals that we conceded inside seven minutes.
“That was frustrating but the boys were competitive in the game right the way through to the very end. We got into some dangerous areas, but didn’t at times show enough quality when we were in there, but we kept getting in there and we were just waiting for those moments to fall. But overall, we’re very disappointed not to take something from the game.”
It was a lightning-quick opening from the visitors, who scored thanks to a fine run and finish from Academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, in stark contrast to conceding two in the first seven minutes against the Magpies. The 49-year-old was also full of praise for Dewsbury-Hall’s overall performance in the middle of the park.
Rodgers explained: “It’s always our plan to start fast, but what Newcastle did was wake us up, because if you don’t, the game can be over, so thankfully our mentality and that concentration was there.
“The first goal worked perfectly for us, working it up the pitch, onto the side, and a longer build-up, winning the header and then the second ball for us to get through. It was a fantastic goal.
“He (Dewsbury-Hall) was excellent in the game. He was tenacious, he started well, he carried the ball forward and his finish is a great one. I was really pleased with him. Kiernan had a great chance with a header too but he was fantastic tonight I thought.
“Then we started to play. My only criticism is that we stopped playing at that tempo and worked a little bit. But it’s hard to account for the two goals.”
Speaking more thoroughly on Faes’ two own goals, Rodgers sympathised with his unfortunate situation, especially given his form in the lead up to this game since joining the Club in the summer.
City’s manager continued: “I’m bitterly disappointed for him because he’s been brilliant since he’s been with us. He’s been away at the World Cup but hasn’t played a great deal so it’s going to take a game or two to get up to speed and get his rhythm back.
“The first one, I doubt you’ll see another own goal like that again. It’s just unfortunate because it was coming straight into Wardy’s (Danny Ward’s) hands. The second one, we should do better earlier on – it should never get to that point where he’s challenging it coming off the post. But he scored the two and he’s strong enough to deal with that.”
Although Leicester showed some promising spells which could have steered his side to take something away from the game, they ultimately came up short and were unable to find a way past the Reds once more in the second half.
“It’s down to quality,” the ex-Liverpool manager added. “Unfortunately, especially when you’re missing players like James Maddison, you’re missing that top end quality at that end of the field.
“Clearly when we arrived in there, which we did on a number of occasions, we couldn’t beat the man on a one vs. one or just gave it away with a loose pass. That’s just quality.
“Performance-wise tonight, it was much better. There were some good spells against a top club and now we’ve got to take that confidence into the next game.”
Rodgers also provided an update on Patson Daka, who limped off injured just 15 minutes into the clash at Anfield. The Zambia forward was starting for the second time in four days after leading the line against Newcastle.
It looks like his hamstring," he revealed. "So, the medical team will tell me later in the morning, but it doesn't look great. It's just a case of getting them in, getting them recovered and then we can get ready for the game against Fulham."