Liverpool ended a year they will remember with a night Wout Faes would like to forget. The normally commanding Leicester defender scored two ridiculous own goals that gave Jurgen Klopp’s side a lucky win and kept their momentum in their quest to qualify for the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers’ side led through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s early goal and were rarely troubled by a subdued Liverpool display until Faes sliced two goals into his own net seven minutes into the first half. Both were easily avoidable and will be featured in classic own goal clips for years to come. “3-0 for the Leicester lads,” chanted the visiting fans with good reason. That was one of their better deals on a night when they once again spat out the pathetic “Feed the Scousers” and “Always the Victim” chants on Anfield.
Liverpool were grateful for the Belgium international defender’s carelessness. The home side have been erratic and sluggish in possession but are two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham after their fourth straight Premier League win. And to come with the promise of Cody Gakpo. The PSV Eindhoven signing was in the crowd to witness Darwin Núñez put on another influential but wasteful performance, Trent Alexander-Arnold consistently impressed and Liverpool improved after the break without punishing one of several inviting opens.
Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson laid a wreath of yellow and white flowers at the center circle before kick-off to commemorate Pele of both clubs. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson laid another wreath in memory of the club’s popular former striker David Johnson, who died last month.
Klopp had instructed his players to start with the same intensity and sharpness that underpinned the win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Leicester’s early struggles against Newcastle on the same day when they were two goals down within 10 minutes were noted. But so much for the best of plans. It was Leicester called up by Rodgers on a day off to analyze his errors on Boxing Day, positive, stronger and energetic from the first whistle. They led after four minutes when Dewsbury-Hall took full advantage of a breach in Liverpool’s center defence.
The Leicester midfielder was kept busy after Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka together steered Danny Ward’s goal kick his way. He hopped around Henderson with ease and suddenly, as Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip were lured out of position, a chasm appeared. Dewsbury-Hall ran through properly and blasted a finish over Alisson into the Kop goal.
Liverpool were momentarily stunned. Her inertia lasted much longer. Klopp had made a forced change from the Villa win when Harvey replaced Elliott for Fabinho, whose wife went into labor just before kick-off. The contrast in performance levels was stark as Liverpool lacked cohesion and gave up possession cheaply.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gives Leicester an early lead. Photo: Carl Recine/PortalLeicester lost Daka to an early injury sustained trying to end an Alisson clearance. The forward was replaced by Jamie Vardy, who scored almost immediately as he broke through clearly on the right and threaded a beautiful ball towards Barnes at the far post. Alexander-Arnold flew in with a crucial interception. Ayoze Pérez’s resulting corner left the impressive Wilfred Ndidi unmarked at the back post, but a deflection from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sent his header wide.
Núñez tried to urgently threaten Liverpool’s performance and Mohamed Salah came on narrowly after a plundering run from the Uruguay international. Otherwise, Rodgers’ compact team felt comfortable. Enter Faes and a truly inexplicable implosion.
Ward had already berated a Leicester defender for clearing at the near post when he came to collect the ball when Alexander-Arnold swept a striking cross to the same spot. The Leicester keeper clearly screamed for the ball. Faes wasn’t listening or not trusting his keeper enough and stretched out a leg to clear it. He managed to send the ball up and over Ward, who turned in horror to see the pitiful distance kiss the inside of the far post and Liverpool equalized.
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The home side’s happiness and Faes’ embarrassment didn’t end there. Minutes later, a smart touch from Oxlade-Chamberlain put Núñez on target. The forward hit the advancing Ward with a cool chip that rolled off goal and onto a post. Faes was first on the scene to clean up. He cut into its top corner. It was an absurd, comical end to the first half, although no one from Leicester saw the funny side.
The Kop yelled ‘shoot’ whenever the Belgium international gained possession in the second half, but avoided an unwelcome hat-trick. Henderson almost added a third when he was found unmarked in the box after an Alexander-Arnold throw-in. Salah missed a shot badly when he was played through by an exquisite, angled pass from Núñez, who had an excellent chance over Ward’s crossbar when found in space by substitute Naby Keïta. The Leicester keeper also denied Salah with a fingertip save after a more altruistic effort from Núñez.
Leicester also had chances in an open, fluid second half. The best fell to Dewsbury-Hall as he sprinted into another gap in Liverpool’s defense to find Timothy Castagne’s cross, only to lavishly miss a header. A crazy seven minutes from Faes cost them dearly.