Premier League: Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane bail Alisson out as Liverpool edge Leicester City

Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri (Photo: AFP)


Liverpool FC defeated hosts Leicester City 2-1, thanks to first-half goals from forwards Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, despite a grave error by goalkeeper Alisson that handed Leicester their lone goal of the English Premier League (EPL) match on Saturday.

While trying to dribble around Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho inside the area, Alisson got the ball caught in his feet and lost possession. Iheanacho pounced on the mistake and passed the ball to Rachid Ghezzal, who sent it into the wide-open net in the 63rd minute, bringing the score to 1-2, reports Efe.

Liverpool have won all four games of the EPL season so far, thanks to coach Jurgen Klopp’s formidable attacking trio of Firmino, Mane and Mohamed Salah, who started Saturday’s match strong.

It was Salah who first threated Kasper Schmeichel’s goal early in the game, but his close-range shot went just wide.

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Ten minutes into the match, Mane gave his side the lead with a left-footed shot inside the box, making the most of Andrew Robertson’s pass.

Leicester, who missed suspended striker Jamie Vardy, tried to get back in the game as forward Demarai Gray fired from close range, but Alisson made the save.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Salah tried his luck again with a long-range shot that failed to get past Schmeichel.

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A header from Firmino doubled Liverpool’s lead in the last minute before stoppage time, seizing on James Milner’s cross from a corner kick.

Following Allison’s second-half mishap, Liverpool took control and slowed down the pace of the game to secure the win, with Klopp taking Salah out for the last 20 minutes.

Liverpool lead the EPL table with 12 points, while Leicester, who suffered their second defeat this season, provisionally hold the seventh spot with six points.