Liverpool vs Leicester City. Carabao Cup Round 3.
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Match report and free match highlights as goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota saw Liverpool come from behind to defeat Leicester City at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Kasey McAteer had put the Foxes in front early on
Thursday 28 September 2023 09:33, UK
Liverpool came from behind to defeat Leicester 3-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup thanks to a trio of second-half goals.
Kasey McAteer had put the Championship side ahead after just 129 seconds at Anfield but Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool early in the second half before Dominik Szoboszlai came off the bench to score from distance. Diogo Jota's flick ended any hope of a Leicester response.
Although Enzo Maresca's side impressed with their willingness to play out from the back, it was a deserved victory for Jurgen Klopp's team given their dominance, twice hitting the crossbar. A seventh consecutive win in all competitions takes them into the fourth round, where they will face Bournemouth.
Leicester came into the contest having won nine of their 10 games in all competitions this season and their confidence was boosted right from the outset thanks to McAteer's goal, a composed finish low into the far corner of Caoimhin Kelleher's net.
Kostas Tsimikas felt he had been fouled in the build-up but those complaints were ignored and the Championship side had their foothold. Despite 15 attempts at goal from Liverpool in the first half and a series of excellent chances, Leicester held the lead to half-time.
Ben Doak came closest for the hosts, the young winger striking the underside of the crossbar. Jota should have done better from close range prior to that but Gakpo certainly did all he could with his best chance only to see Conor Coady clear his header off the line.
The England international and former Liverpool academy player was making his debut for the Foxes and was a central figure throughout as Maresca's men tried to play out from the back. It was a bold tactic given the ferocity of the Premier League side's pressing.
Leicester could not resist after the interval. Ryan Gravenberch showed quick feet to feed Gakpo and the Dutchman's firm finish levelled things up inside three minutes of the second half. The introduction of Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez proved the away side's undoing.
The Hungary midfielder found space just outside the box and crashed the ball high into the Leicester net in front of the Kop. Liverpool's progress was then confirmed when Jarell Quansah's run on the right found Jota who flicked the ball low into the far corner.
There was still time for Harvey Elliott to have another effort cleared off the line but it made no difference to the outcome. Liverpool were too strong for a spirited Leicester. They now travel to face Bournemouth in the fourth round.
"It is all about the reaction and without playing outstandingly well immediately we created massive chances, chances that it is difficult to miss but we did. The goalie had a save, the crossbar, how the ball did not go in the net, I have no clue.
"At half-time, it is clear, you want to make sure we don't get frustrated. We had to stay positive. Not chase the game, just play the game. That is what the boys did and minute by minute we grew into the game and it was a top performance then, to be honest.
"You could smell the confidence they had because of their situation and that made it difficult but we kept going and improved as a team and individually. Top goals. I think the goals that we did not score were beautiful as well. Super signs tonight."
Liverpool are approaching six months now since their last defeat. While they have kept only one clean sheet in all competitions this season, such is the firepower available to Klopp, that is not proving a problem. There are so many goals in this squad.
Mohamed Salah and Nunez scored in the win over West Ham at the weekend. Against Leicester, it was Gakpo and Szoboszlai. Jota added late gloss in both games. Luis Diaz, a scorer in the first two games of the season, was not required.
Seven different players have found the net in this run of seven victories, a sequence that has been unusual given that Liverpool have actually fallen behind in five of those matches and had to overcome an equaliser in one of the other two.
Going behind so regularly hints at the fact that are still issues for Klopp to address. His once fluent side is not quite at its best. The encouraging aspect for Liverpool is that they no longer need to be. They are creating so many chances that the wins will surely keep coming.
