Leicester City 0-4 Liverpool reaction: Heavy defeat in final pre-season game

Reaction and analysis of Leicester City’s final pre-season game as they take on the Premier League giants at the National Stadium in Singapore after an encouraging start

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Leicester City’s final pre-season fixture as Enzo Maresca’s side take on Liverpool at the National Stadium in Singapore.

With just a week to go before City’s competitive season begins, Coventry are invited to the King Power Stadium and the meeting with Liverpool gives Maresca one last chance to get his side into shape.

Jurgen Klopp’s line-up against the Reds could hint that Maresca will face the Sky Blues next Sunday and there are some controversial positions. City will have to decide who will play in central defense if Conor Coady is injured, who will play on the wings while Maresca has no senior options and who will play up front as Jamie Vardy has recently struggled with a problem minor.

Following the cancellation of Tottenham’s friendly, City faced Thai club Port FC in midweek and won 1-0. But a game against Liverpool is a big step forward and will be a true test of the tactics and style of play Maresca has instilled in his four weeks at the club.

There is no need to worry about a similar abandonment to last weekend’s game, even if the weather deteriorates, as there is a retractable roof at the National Stadium in Singapore which should ensure the game continues.
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Kick-off in Singapore is at 5pm local time, which is 10am UK time. Team news is expected around 9 a.m. Check the blog below for game updates and reviews. Maresca surprised
There was no negativity from the manager after the game, despite the score. In fact, he chose to focus on the first 30 minutes, when his team played so well that he was amazed. He said:

Round of questions from fans
After such a heavy defeat, fans are once again questioning the benefits of traveling to Singapore for pre-season.

Who did well? Who underperformed? Of all the City players to take the field in Singapore, it will be Kasey McAteer who will keep his head up knowing that some flashes of pace, good footwork and creativity have boosted his chances of being involved in the first team this season. Dewsbury-Hall and Ricardo also did well.

But on the other hand, Chestnuts had a bit of a stinker, while Vestergaard also struggled after a good start.

Full time: City 0-4 Liverpool
There is a chance for Iheanacho when he headers Justin’s free kick, and that will be the last play.

City’s pre-season ends with a heavy defeat, with Liverpool too good for Maresca’s men in the last hour. Another change
Choudhury is looking for stop in the change of fourth city.

Offside
Diaz goes to Liverpool because Gomez was previously in motion, which also included a good salvation from Hermansen

Double Chance!
Lofts wink at a long ball above and is perfect for ndidi charging. He has space to shoot, but puts the ball under his feet and then loads himself to Daka, who blocked a shot from Quansah.

Shortly after, Ricardo crosses Dewsbury-Hall and takes a shot just wide from the pole.

Hermansen Save

This time it is the ball away and it is a 20 -meter shot that Hermansen must immerse himself in a low way to overturn around his post. The city is not involved in this at all. Winks and Dewsbury-Hall barely saw the ball.

Objective. Doak enters
Was arriving. Matip kicks for a corner and nobody scores Doak at the far post, the youngster heads into the net. Hermansen saves with a head
Szoboszlai robs Winks in the middle of the park and tries to throw Hermansen, who is way outside his goal.

But the Danish goalkeeper, who is outside his box and unable to use his hands, jumps up and saves with his head! This is inventive and effective goalkeeper.

First change for City
Marcal-Madivadua came on for Albrighton in City’s first substitution. He’s going left, McAteer is going right, and McAteer just nutted tsimikas.

All of Liverpool
So far, the entire half has been played in City territory, with Liverpool in possession. McConnell’s shot went just wide of Hermansen’s left post and then Vestergaard had to block Diaz after he gave the ball away again.

Second half in progress
At half-time, nothing changed for City, who conceded almost a quarter 40 seconds into the second period. Liverpool move the ball forward with speed, a low cross comes in and the ball falls to Elliott, one of Liverpool’s 10 half-time substitutes, who shoots in from eight yards.

Soon after, Vestergaard gave the ball away in his own half, but then scrambled back into position to block Gakpo’s shot.

First Half: City 0-3 Liverpool
Ah, what a pity that half was. In the opening 25 minutes City were superb on the ball, playing faster and more complicated football than we had seen for much of last season against a side that put them under pressure.

But when Liverpool scored the opening goal after half an hour, the Reds dominated, capitalizing on City’s mistakes to create a healthy lead.

It should be 4-0
Mac Allister crosses Ricardo’s back at the edge of City’s box and there is no free kick. The World Cup winner brings the ball back to Jota in the penalty area, who sends it into the side netting when he should have scored

Aim. Jota adds third place to Liverpool
This is another goal that City defeated. Castagne gave the ball away in his own half and Liverpool spread him down the right, where Salah crossed for Jota, who slipped between Doyle and Vestergaard to pass Hermansen.

Things went so well for City in the first 25 minutes, but they’ve been torn apart ever since Liverpool got it first.

Objective. Clark doubles Liverpool lead
It’s another one for the Reds.

Ndidi gave the ball away in midfield and Liverpool were so relentless in carrying it forward, Salah poked the ball wide for Clark on the edge of the box. He shoots the ball into the bottom corner without the City midfielders putting pressure on him.

Robertson volleys over the goal
Alexander-Arnold crosses to the far post where Robertson finds space between Castagne and Albrighton.

He volleys over the bar with his side foot.

Aim. Nunez scores for Liverpool
ah Liverpool are ahead.

Mac Allister finds room in the pocket and serves Jota, who shoots with his left foot on the spin to the left side of the box. The ball probably goes wide but Hermansen bounces back to save, gets a hand and slows the ball down enough for Nunez to hit it to the back post while Ricardo slides in too late.

Hermansen saves
City give the ball away and they are in trouble. Salah circles a cross shot which Jota puts in the net, but Hermansen climbs and deflects the ball past the Portuguese.
That McAteer beat

Damnation.
The graduate of the Academy surpassed Alexander-Arnold there. Then he went for a shot that was blocked by Konate.

Dewsbury-Hall is furious that she didn’t put him in the coffin. He was probably right to be annoyed, but it was a great play from McAteer at first. Earlier, an error from Castagne ended in a shot from Alexander-Arnold, but Hermansen got to work, saved and saved the ball.

The city is back

It’s brilliant football when City come from behind and Dewsbury-Hall plays an excellent pass to Ndidi and charges again from midfield towards the box.

He tries to find Albrighton but Konaté clears for a corner. Vestergaard goes over the goal from a corner.

Off-side !
Jota continues to hit Nunez, who crosses, passes Hermansen and puts the ball in the net. But the flag goes up. He was offside by a few meters.

Huge opportunity
A long ball holds up and Daka hits McAteer with a back header that charges forward.

Then he plays a nice pass on Ndidi who advances, but Kelleher dodges at his feet.

Great move
Vestergaard pings McAteer. He plays a one-two with Dewsbury-Hall then finds Albrighton on the other side.

The winger crosses at the far post and looks for Dewsbury-Hall but is narrowly beaten.

City were pretty good with the ball. They support very well a fast pressing of Liverpool.

Ricardo on the left
He’s played on the right flank for most of this pre-season but Ricardo is left-back this morning. But he still appears to be fulfilling his dual role of moving forward to join Winks in deeper midfield positions.

Kick off!
We are operational!

The players arrive
It has been hinted that Albrighton was the captain, but it is Ricardo who leads City to the National Stadium in Singapore.

The away kit Hermansen wears is really eye-catching. It’s a pink jersey with purple shorts and pink socks.

Top and brother present
City Top’s chairman and his brother, vice-chairman Apichet, are both at the Singapore match, sitting in the stands in the club’s new away kit. No possibility of delay
Luckily we have a match today. There is no rain to threaten to cancel this event.

That interesting news about the team…
With this being the last pre-season match, it appears that Maresca’s 11 selection is significant for next week’s opening league match.

So there’s plenty for fans to sink their teeth into. With Coady and Faes absent, Vestergaard is a big decision for Souttar. Is the Great Dane preferable to the large Aussie? Vestergaard said during the week that he was looking for a team in Europe’s top five leagues, so it would be strange for him to start the season and not leave until the end of August.

Similar situation on the left full-back: Castagne was preferred to Thomas, even if the Belgian aims to exit.

In midfield there is Ndidi in number eight with Praet out. Looks like the Nigerian is ahead of Choudhury and Soumare to start there if Praet is still missing, and no signing made, come next week.

The first three are also interesting. With Vardy out, Iheanacho was due to feature against Spurs then started in midweek, but it’s Daka who gets the nod this time. He previously played on the right this pre-season. And then there is no Marcal-Madivadua although he was very prominent this summer. Instead, it’s McAteer to the left and Albrighton to the right.