For Liverpool, it was the definition of a defensive course, speed and chaos took your breath away. They seemed ready for a much-needed victory after Mohamed Salah’s beautiful finish in Roberto Firmino’s even better assist.
The champions, however, have long since lost certainty and this defeat, the fifth in 10 Premier League games, has raised many more uncomfortable questions – especially whether they will be able to recover a result in the Champions League with a disastrous defense of the title.
There was a VAR drama about the Leicester draw, which James Maddison said, but the decisive moment came soon after, in the 81st minute, and for the second consecutive game it involved an almost comical mistake by Alisson.
Twice in the 4-1 home defeat last Sunday to Manchester City, the goalkeeper missed by scoring goals, but that mistake was even worse because he had a collision with a teammate – the new contractor Ozan Kabak, who had an unforgettable debut.
Youri Tielemans had aimed a high ball at Harvey Barnes and with Kabak retreating and Alisson running out of his area, the perfect storm formed. Kabak extended a leg to challenge at the same time that Alisson made his connection. But, instead of cleaning, he pulled the ball directly to Jamie Vardy, who collected it and ran to the empty net.
What was happening? Recently, on December 19, Liverpool appeared to be in a position to retain the title. That was the day they passed seven points at Crystal Palace and sat five points clear at the top of the table. Few things have worked for them since then.
Their afternoon took a turn in the wrong direction when they conceded the third. Moments earlier, Jürgen Klopp had been furious with someone behind him in the stands and now he saw Salah lose possession and Wilfried Ndidi free Barnes from Kabak, who clearly had no legs to return to. Barnes confidently passed Alisson and Leicester could feel his four biggest hopes rising.
There was only introspection and sadness for Liverpool. They had enjoyed the best of the first half and much of the second in terms of ball possession and territory, but the fear problems that lurked in the rear were announced.
Klopp fielded his 13th defensive partnership at the center of a season marked by injuries, with Kabak joining Jordan Henderson, but it was two moments before the break when the new defender looked vulnerable.
Vardy spun on his back in the 12th minute just to shoot too high, while Kabak also slipped just before the break when Leicester advanced. Maddison played the final pass, an elegant stroke, and Vardy was clean. His kick hit the crossbar.
It wasn’t just Kabak who fought Vardy. The striker ‘s clearest chance in the first half came when he found space behind Henderson to receive a cross from Barnes from the left, but his header was weak.
Liverpool were brilliant at first, with Salah’s movement causing problems for Ricardo Pereira. He had two good chances in the first quarter, in addition to other fluctuations, but the final product was bad. Henderson freed him in the 10th minute with a beautiful ball over the top and, although Pereira went back to challenge, it was still a surprise to see Salah make a mistake.
Salah’s other great moment came after a pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold, but instead of kicking, he went to a cross that never seemed to have reached Sadio Mané before Daniel Amartey.
Alexander-Arnold played well in front of England coach Gareth Southgate, and he almost gave Liverpool the lead in the 57th minute, but his free-kick deflected off the post.
Liverpool’s goal was beautiful, Firmino dragging the ball back with one foot before, in the same fluid motion, hitting Salah with the other. Salah hit the angles this time, entering the farthest corner.
The game took a sharp turn after Barnes deflected between Thiago Alcântara and Alexander-Arnold from the left of the area, feeling the first contact and going to the ground. A penalty was granted only for VAR to call her back, as the foul occurred outside the area.
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Maddison took the low foul through a bunch of bodies and into the far corner, but again VAR didn’t like it, disallowing him for an offside against Amartey, who tried and failed to throw the ball in the middle. Or so it seemed. After further analysis, Amartey was considered to be at stake and Maddison’s goal remained.
Alisson would make a beautiful double defense in 2-1 to deny Barnes and Vardy, but by now the damage was done. It would get worse. In this most turbulent season, Liverpool are on their knees.