Despite Leicester City’s deserved 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, the Foxes are still two points clear at the top of the Premier League after second-placed Arsenal were thrashed 4-0 at Southampton later on Boxing Day.
The Foxes’ unbeaten run, which lasted nine matches, was always going to end at some point and there’s certainly no disgrace losing at Liverpool. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri rightly called it a nervy display, but the hosts deserve huge credit for matching City’s energy as well as adopting a 4-4-2 formation — largely out of respect for Leicester.
Other managers will inevitably take note of Jurgen Klopp’s tactics. In fact, both of Leicester’s trips to Merseyside have shown sides how to handle City’s potent counter-attacking game, and Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in particular. The star duo were quiet in the 3-2 victory at Everton and virtual spectators at Anfield. Mahrez had two men on him for much of the afternoon, while Vardy toiled with a fever.
It would be unfair to call Leicester’s performance negative, but the side lacked fluidity and looked uncharacteristically fatigued, which is worrying given the congested festive fixtures ahead.
City have really struggled to boss the midfield since Danny Drinkwater’s hamstring injury in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea, underlying his importance to the team. His replacement, Andy King, is not really a defensive midfielder and Ranieri may hand Gokhan Inler a rare run-out against Manchester City on Dec. 28.
The Foxes will be desperate to take something at home to Manuel Pellegrini’s side, since back-to-back losses will take the edge of a superb first half of the season.
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