A new era dawned at Liverpool: the extended Main Stand brought in an extra 8,000 supporters, and they were treated to some exceptionally slick attacking football, either side of a minor mental breakdown following the mother of all goal-giving howlers by Lucas Leiva.
Liverpool have beaten the Premier League chapions more often than any other side: this is admittedly probably due to the fact that they've spent precisely n time as champions themselves, but this 4-1 thumping of Leicester offered much hope going forward.
Here's how we rated both teams: Leicester need to get their arse in gear before the Champions League.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet - 6
With new signing Loris Karius sitting on the bench, time is ticking on Mignolet's reign of mediocrity at Liverpool. While the first goal was Lucas' error, you have to ask the point of rolling the ball to a teammate in that position in the first place, and he followed the concession of the goal with a trademark flap at a long throw-in, with the ball ending up bouncing off his own crossbar. Was better in the second-half: denied Jamie Vardy one-on-one and suffered a bloodied nose, which improves perception among supporters by around 64%. Then suffered a cut in the final ten minutes, and ended up assuming the old Martin Skrtel role: Skrtel invariably played better with a bandaged head, and Mignolet was at his best in this game when he had his nose plugged.
Nathaniel Clyne - 6
Untroubled by Albrighton, struggled to make an impact going forward. Quintessentially 'grand'.
Joel Matip - 7
Lucas' centre-back teammate was quite impressive: extremely composed on the ball, and most importantly managed to better his partner in the 'flagrant brain fart' stakes.
Lucas Leiva - 5
Playing out of position at centre-back, he had actually started reasonably well, stepping up out of defence to begin the move that led to Liverpool's second goal. But then, he dropped the mother of al howlers to hand Jamie Vardy the easiest goal he'll ever score, swing the momentum of the game and expose Liverpool's absurd mental fragility. Here's the frame-by-rame of some Grade A Lucas Aid.
James Milner - 7
Milner's pass for the first goal was exquisitely precise, and he dealt comfortably with the challenge of an admittedly underwhelming Riyad Mahrez.
Jordan Henderson - 7
Beginning to look more comfortable at the base of midfield, and even broke into the penalty area on occasion. Played an important role in setting up Mane's goal. A second-half harrying of Musa earned him a particularly exuberant Jurgen Klopp fist pump in front of the new stand. Should have scored in the second-half.
Georginio Wijnaldum -7
Anonymous in the first half, Wijnaldum grew into the game int he second: showcasing some direct running that made the absence of N'Golo Kanté glaring. His willingness to run beyond the Leicester defence was there for all to see, and was only denied by a combination of reticent Liverpool passing and an over-eager linesman.
Adam Lallana -7
This was the very opposite if the archetypal Lallana performance: usually, he impresses in open play without contributing to the scoreline. Here, it was the other way around: a poor performance in general play beguiled by a thumping strike to make it 3-1. Had his name sung, which is a rare occurrence. The extra 8,000 seats have clearly brought in a few Lallana fans.
Andy Townsend: "Kasper Schmeichel AND his dad wouldn't have saved that one."
Bravo, tbf.— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) September 10, 2016
Sadio Mane - 8
Some of Liverpool's link-up play was exceptional, and Liverpool's will-o-the-wisp was to the fore: he's a nightmare opponent. Scored once and could havhe had a hat-trick, with some of his link up play with Firmino and Sturridge bewitching.
Roberto Firminio - 9
Liverpool's best player in the first half: he took his goal extremely well, matching that impact with his usual ferocious work-rate and fleet of foot. We're not going to mark him down for that dodgy hair, against our better nature. He's hit his
Daniel Sturridge - 8
Sturridge was given the chance to impress at Phillippe Coutinho's expense, and grasped the opportunity. Silky in assisting Mane's goal, and steely in winning the ball back to lay the foundations for the opener. A heavy touch in the penalty area scuppered the chance of a goal before Adam Lallana did the job for him a minute later.
Subs
Phillippe Coutinho - 7
Played the final ten minutes, and didn't put any shots high into the Kop.
Kevin Stewart - 7
A youngster who has impressed Klopp, and is increasingly a decent alternate option to Emre Can.
Alberto Moreno - 10
Played two minutes and didn't concede a penalty. Progress.
Leicester
Kasper Schmeichel - 5
Denied Sturridge brilliantly from close range in the first-half, and managed to narrowly avoid disaster when sprinting out of his goals shortly after Vardy's goal. Wasn't as fortunate late on, as Firmino tapped in a fourth. Where the hell was he going?
Danny Simpson - 4
Limped off injured midway through the first-half, ending his torment at the hands of Firmino.
Wes Morgan - 5
Morgan was badly caught out of position on Liverpool's opener, and his lack of pace was badly exposed on Liverpool's second.
Robert Huth - 5
Huth once famously ended a Champions League semi-final at Anfield up front, and he may have wished that he was spared the defensive roasting he was given here. Leicester kept a high-line, and Huth was exposed as being rather cumbersome on the turn.
Christian Fuchs - 6
Befuddled by the ceaseless movement of Mane, and failed to get on the front-foot to test Nathaniel Clyne, like Danny Rose did a fortnight ago.
Riyad Mahrez - 4
Facing James Milner and Lucas Leiva, Mahrez should have fancied his chances of exposing their lack of pace. He failed to, and was incredibly disappointing.
Danny Drinkwater - 6
Not to labour the gag, but Drinkwater was part of a Leicester midfield that were all at sea when Liverpool hit their passing groove. Almost scored with a fizzing volley in the second-half. We think he might miss his old buddy N'Golo.
Daniel Amartery - 5
The yawning chasm into which James Milner passed to Roberto Firmino to open the scoring would not have existed last season. Yet N'Golo Kanté has left, and his loss was keenly flet at Anfield. Poor Amartery spent the day chasing shadows.
Marc Albrighton - 4
Leicester look a better side in a 4-4-2 with Albrighton on the left, but he really failed to make an impact on this game.
Jamie Vardy - 6
Was handed the easiest goal of his career, and will be disappointed to spurn a one-on-one by shooting directly at Simon Mignolet. His pace didn't trouble Lucas as much as was expected pre-game.
Shinji Okazaki - 4
Okazaki was hooked at half-time, and rightly so: he did nothing in the first-half.
Subs
Leonard Ulloa - 5
Brought on as Ranieri sought to go direct. His offerings came to the sum total of nothing.
Luis Hernandez - 7
Right-back that replaced Simpson, and chucked in some monstrously long throws.
Ahmed Musa - 5
Replaced Okazaki, and he too offered nothing.
