Dominik Szoboszlai helped Liverpool defeat Leicester, securing their place in the League Cup’s fourth round despite their struggles.
Third round of the League Cup, Liverpool 3-1 Leicester, Anfield, September 27, 2023
goals (2) McAteer
(Assist: Gravenberch) Gakpo 48′
70′ Szoboszlai (help from Endo)
Jota 89′ (help from Quansah)
It has become almost typical for Liverpool to concede early due to a missed opportunity, and it was much the same when they began their League Cup campaign.
Leicester were able to break after Kostas Tsimikas on the left flank collapsed like a cheap suit. Kasey McAteer then skillfully finished the move for a 1-0 score within of two minutes.
Jakub Stolarczyk successfully denied Ben Doak’s strong appeal for a penalty, and Doak later struck the bar from a comparable range after being stopped by the defender.
The opportunities kept coming, and Cody Gakpo almost brought the Reds back to parity before Conor Coady cleared the goal line.
Throughout the first half, Coady’s willingness to put his life—and occasionally even his face—on the line to keep out his former team was a recurring theme, leaving Liverpool disappointed at the half.
HT: Leicester 1-0 Liverpool
The manager used strong language in the locker room, and several players, including Gakpo, raised their game.
With 25 minutes remaining in regulation and the match still in doubt, Klopp decided to bring on Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez, possibly the two most well-liked players at Anfield.
And it only Szoboszlai five minutes to give Liverpool the lead after receiving the ball from Wataru Endo, advancing from a distance, and firing in off the crossbar.
The Reds still had to defend, but they did so successfully thanks to timely challenges from Jarell Quansah, Ibrahima Konate, and Stefan Bajcetic to preserve the advantage.
Quansah’s sprint down the right and Diogo Jota’s precise flick sealed Liverpool’s triumph and gave them a fourth straight 3-1 victory.
TIA Curtis Jones was named the game’s MVP.
Tim Robinson is the referee.
Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak (Nunez 65′), Jota, Gakpo; Jones (Bajcetic 79′), Quansah, Konate, and Tsimikas (Chambers 90′); Liverpool
