Knockout punch for Leicester City as Liverpool win 1-0

Table-toppers lose 0-1 to Liverpool as striker Christian Benteke scores

Liverpool: Liverpool striker Christian Benteke's first goal since the end of October inflicted Leicester's first defeat in three months to open up a crack in their armour.


Liverpool's Christian Benteke (second from left) is surrounded by joyous teammates after scoring against Leicester City at the Anfield Stadium on Saturday. Pic/AFP 

Claudio Ranieri's side, who failed to score for the first time this season, have profited from a killer counter-attacking game but were nullified until the final quarter, by which time the hosts had already edged ahead.

The 63rd-minute goal came from two players who were far from their best — Benteke started on the bench and benefited from a first-half injury to Divock Origi while Roberto Firmino looked lost for long periods before providing the chance for Benteke.

That will not have mattered to Jurgen Klopp after four matches without victory. Whether defeat, their first away from home since March, is the bursting of the Foxes' bubble remains to be seen but with Manchester City up next at home this, as expected, will be the most testing period of their campaign.

In an attempt to give his side a better chance of making — and taking — chances, Klopp left out defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva and paired Jordan Henderson and Emre Can in the centre with the attacking trio of Philippe Coutinho, Firmino and Adam Lallana supporting Origi.

Liverpool's lone striker justified his inclusion for 38 minutes, his movement and willingness to battle for the ball giving Wes Morgan and Robert Huth problems, before he was forced off with a hamstring problem.

He drew Kasper Schmeichel into one save down at his near post, having done well to muscle Leicester captain Morgan off the ball.

Coutinho was less threatening with three shots in the opening 15 minutes failing to trouble the goalkeeper, and Lallana wasted his one chance by drilling into the side-netting while Can at least made Schmeichel touch his low effort around the post.

Liverpool's dominance of possession saw much of the game played in Leicester's final third as the Premier League leaders' tried and trusted counter-attacking tactic limited them to fewer chances than usual, with their best chance coming when the in-form Riyad Mahrez's dribble and fierce shot forced Simon Mignolet to tip over late in the half.

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