There was a time when Liverpool scored three goals in six minutes and it went on to win them the Champions League. Here they conceded three in seven and it may cost them a place in the Champions League.
Sixteen years after Istanbul, a week after they were breached three times in 10 minutes by Manchester City, they could rue another swift burst of goals.
The very fact it allowed Leicester to win 3-1 may mean Liverpool are sixth by the end of the round of fixtures. The manner of them was worse. Alisson Becker endured another traumatic day, marred by another dreadful mistake. Ozan Kabak’s Liverpool debut felt almost unrivalled in its ignominy.
The image that encapsulated it, the match and Liverpool’s 2021 came with nine minutes remaining and Leicester level in contentious fashion.
Youri Tielemans aimed a long ball forward. With communication conspicuous by its absence, Alisson charged out of his box. Meanwhile, Kabak was attempting to clear. They collided and Jamie Vardy, who had tormented Liverpool with his pace, could stroll towards the unguarded net to score.
“A misunderstanding,” Jurgen Klopp said. “It is not cool. Ozan is a good player but he is not used to everything we do. Ali likes to come out and these things can happen. Alisson had a super game and then at that moment he came out, I didn't hear him shouting.” For the Brazilian, at fault for two City goals six days earlier, the sequel was equally unhappy.
For Kabak, the start of a new story felt a horror movie. Leicester ended up targeting him and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alisson made one brilliant double save from Harvey Barnes and Vardy when the winger escaped. The next time he did, Barnes scored. “The third goal I really don't like,” Klopp said. “We were so open.”
But whenever he was tested, Kabak was found wanting. The deadline-day signing who emerged unscathed was the one who was not fit: Ben Davies, the other addition, fitted in seamlessly at Anfield by getting injured before he could play.
So Kabak could testify instead to Vardy’s excellence and elusiveness. He evaded him for an improvised lob. Kabak lost the veteran and slipped when James Maddison’s flick sent him scurrying clear to hit the bar. Vardy got away from Jordan Henderson, the other half of Liverpool’s 17th centre-back partnership of the season, for two more chances. Henderson at least excelled in other aspects and was blameless for the goals.
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Leicester v Liverpool player ratings
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LEICESTER RATINGS: Kaspar Schmeichel - 7: The Dane made a remarkable one-handed save from Firmino and although Liverpool were offside in the build up the goalkeeper did not know it. Had no chance with Salah’s goal. Getty -
Daniel Amartey - 7: The Ghanaian was deployed at right back and played a big part in keeping Mane quiet. He showed real poise when making a first-half clearance in front of goal, putting the ball out of play just before the Senegalese arrived. AP -
Jonny Evans - 6: The 33-year-old maintained a calm defensive presence in the face of repeated attacks. He took a knock before half time but did not let the injury affect him. He was close to Firmino as the Brazilian set up Liverpool’s goal but could do nothing to stop it. Reuters -
Caglar Soyuncu - 7: The Turk was involved in the action from the start, making two telling interceptions in the opening minutes and was secure throughout. AFP -
Ricardo Pereira - 6: The Portuguese had his hands full with Salah but made a number of telling interceptions. He did well in a role that is not his best position. AFP -
Wilfred Ndidi - 8: The Nigerian was dominant in the air and was efficient at the base of midfield, helping to protect the defence. He is not a huge source of threat for Leicester but he provided the platform for others to get forward. AP -
Youri Tielemans - 6: The Belgian spent most of the match seemingly reluctant to play the ball over the top of the defence. When he did, Liverpool were in all sorts of trouble and Vardy gave Leicester the lead. Getty -
Marc Albrighton - 4: A flat performance from the 31-year-old and never got to grips with the challenge. It was no surprise when he was yanked off for Perez with 16 minutes left. Getty -
James Maddison - 6: The 24-year-old was quiet for most of the match. He rarely got into promising positions but he popped up to score the equaliser from a free kick. -
Harvey Barnes - 7: Seemed to be losing the battle against Alexander-Arnold but played a huge part in Leicester’s victory. He was fouled by Thiago to set up the opening goal and found space behind the defence to score the third. Reuters -
Jamie Vardy - 7: The striker was starved of service until late in the first half when he hit the bar and was foiled by Alisson in short succession. His lurking presence contributed to the confusion between the goalkeeper and Kabak and he gleefully took advantage to give his team the lead. Getty -
SUBS: Ayoze Perez - (On for Albrighton 74') 6: Spaniard gave the team a little more thrust going forward in the 16 minutes he lasted before departing through injury. Reuters -
Hamza Choudhury - (On for Tielemans 87') N/A. AFP -
Nampalys Mendy - (On for Perez 90') N/A. -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 4: The Brazilian made excellent saves from Vardy in each half but was let down by his latest huge mistake that gifted Leicester their second goal. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5: Caused plenty of danger going forward and hit the bar with a deflected free kick. He seemed to have subdued Barnes but the winger scored Leicester’s third after finding space behind the full-back. PA -
Ozan Kabak - 4: There were encouraging signs from the 20-year-old on loan from Schalke but things went badly wrong in the last quarter of an hour. His tangle with Alisson for the second Leicester goal will haunt him. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 5: The captain’s passing was superb and he twice released Salah in the danger zone. His defending was less certain, however, and he was lucky that his first-half error was not punished by Vardy. He was unable to do anything about the late meltdown. EPA -
Andrew Robertson - 7: The Scot was strong in the tackle and always eager to start attacks down the left. He is one of the team’s most consistent performers. Getty -
James Milner - 6: The 35-year-old pressed and passed well as Liverpool dominated the midfield in the early stages. Picked up an injury and limped off after 17 minutes to be replaced by Thiago. Reuters -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6: The Dutchman was effective at the base of midfield, spotting trouble before it could develop and distributing the ball wisely when in possession. He faded in the second half. Replaced by Shaqiri with three minutes left. Reuters -
Curtis Jones - 6: The 20-year-old was instrumental in denying Leicester the space to play. He always looked for a forward pass. Replaced with 15 minutes to go just before Liverpool’s collapse. AP -
Mohamed Salah - 6: The Egyptian menaced the defence from the start. He took his goal beautifully but will regret missing a couple of chances and misplacing a pass in the move that led to Leicester’s third. Reuters -
Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian worked relentlessly, pressing ball-carriers with gusto. He had a shot from point-blank range saved by Schmeichel, although it would have been ruled out for offside. His dancing, twirling backheel to set up Salah’s goal was a moment of genius. AP -
Sadio Mane - 5: Saw plenty of the ball but was crowded out by the home side. The Senegalese drifted out of the game in the second half. AP -
SUBS: Thiago Alcantara - (On for Milner 17') 2: The 29-year-old is uncomfortable with the pace of the Premier League. He made a lazy challenge on Barnes that was dangerously close to being a penalty but was punished when Leicester equalised from the resulting free kick. Getty -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - (On for Jones 75') 5: He was not responsible for Liverpool falling apart but he added little to the team. EPA -
Xherdan Shaqiri – (On for Wijnaldum 87') N/A. Getty
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The same could not be said for Thiago Alcantara. He was dropped, but when the hamstrung James Milner hobbled off, he came on.
An hour later, he fouled a rampant Barnes. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. VAR overruled him – the offence had taken place just outside the box – but when Maddison’s resulting free kick went in, Daniel Amartey was ruled offside.
A second VAR review worked Leicester’s way: Roberto Firmino had played him onside and, while Amartey aimed to connect, he had not touched the ball anyway.
“Everything fine and then penalty, free-kick, offside, not offside, goal,” said Klopp, trying to sum up a confusing passage of play. “That had a proper impact. It was a turning point in the game. A really tough one to take.”
Liverpool had led, and in impressive manner. “We played good football, dominated possession, took the game out of Leicester,” said Klopp. “We should win.”
They had attacked with speed and wit, offering hints of their best. Firmino conjured a cheeky backheel, Mohamed Salah a wonderful curled finish.
They could have struck earlier. Vardy hit the same bar twice, but once for each side. He leapt in the wall, inadvertently heading Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick on to the woodwork. Kasper Schmeichel had been defiant. Liverpool had been menacing.
But for Leicester, it amounted to a memorable, magnificent comeback. Liverpool were not the only injury-hit team on show but the wonderful trio of Barnes, Maddison and Vardy compensated for others’ absences.
“A year ago if we'd have gone behind we would have got nothing from it,” said Brendan Rodgers, who beat his former club for the first time since they sacked him. "We didn't sink when we went a goal behind. Our reaction was superb." Seven minutes of chaos for Liverpool was seven of brilliance for Leicester.
