Leicester 3 Liverpool 1: Alisson makes ANOTHER clanger with new boy Kabak as title hopes end after Foxes loss
LIVERPOOL and Alisson’s season hit a new low with a calamitous defeat.
Moments after James Maddison fired in the equaliser, the Brazilian keeper was involved in a horrible mix-up with debutant Ozan Kabak that gifted Jamie Vardy the winner.
It was the third high-profile mistake by the Liverpool goalkeeper in a week following his bloopers against Manchester City.
Harvey Barnes then grabbed a third just two minutes later as the Red’s title hopes went up in smoke.
Leading with only 12 minutes to go through a goal-of-the-season contender by Mo Salah, the champions conceded three times as Leicester boosted their own slim chances of the title with a huge victory.
There was an element of fortune about Maddison’s equaliser after a double dose of VAR.
Anthony Taylor’s initial decision to give the Foxes a penalty was overturned but the free kick that Maddison took instead was given after VAR Stuart Attwell ruled that Daniel Amartey had not been offside.
And the defending for the Foxes’ third, tucked away by Barnes, was almost as bad.
Liverpool were much the better team in the first half but Vardy missed the best chances.
Premier League top scorer Salah twice found himself behind the Leicester backline only for that weak right foot of his to let him down on both occasions.
The Reds were playing well, with more energy and penetration than they had shown for some time.
Klopp’s team dominated possession and territory, which meant little opportunity for Kabak to show what he could do on his debut at centre back.
But in the final 10 minutes of half, Vardy could have grabbed a hat-trick.
First he headed a Harvey Barnes cross straight at Alisson. Then, after Kabak slipped, the Foxes’ frontman hit the bar. Finally, with stand-in centre half Jordan Henderson this time the man at fault, Vardy latched on to the ball only for Alisson to close him down quickly to make the save.
Early in the second half Vardy hit the bar again – but this time at the other end, as he jumped in the wall and deflected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free kick.
When the goal came, it was worth the wait.
Youri Tielemans ruined his good defensive work with a poor clearance that was picked off by Alexander-Arnold.
Salah miscontrolled the first pass, but when the England full back tried again, Firmino produced a moment of brilliance to flick the ball back to Salah, whose finish was also superb.
But just when the Reds were heading for a morale-boosting win, the tide turned.
Barnes went down easily under Thiago’s challenge, which was outside the box, and VAR reversted Taylor’s decision.
Maddison took the free kick and it seemd to go straight in, only for an offside flag to be raised against Amartey.
This time VAR ruled in Leicester’s favour.
Tails up, the Foxes hunted Liverpool down.
Alisson, six days after his double gaffe had cost the Reds dear against Manchester City, collided with Kabak as both went to intercept Tieleman’s long pass.
Vardy ran the ball gratefully into the net.
An amazing double save by Alisson denied Barnes and Vardy, but Liverpool’s misery was complete when Barnes latched on to Ndidi’s through ball and this time found the net.
