AS IT HAPPENED: Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool

Welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.


The Foxes controversially sacked boss Claudio Ranieri last Thursday, just 298 days after he lead the club to the most famous of top-flight triumphs.

Now under the guidance of caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare, the feeble champions must pick themselves up after dropping into the bottom three at the weekend for the first time.

Can they kickstart their campaign with a first win of 2017 this evening, or will the visitors pick up the three points required to move back into the top four? Find out with our extensive updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Mahrez, Okazaki, Vardy
LEICESTER CITY SUBS: Zieler, Chilwell, Gray, King, Amartey, Ulloa, Slimani

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Klavan, Stewart, Alexander-Arnold, Origi, Woodburn









Referee Michael Oliver blows his whistle for full time, meaning a first win of 2017 for Leicester City. A truly massive win for the Foxes, who climb out of the bottom three as a result of the win. Jamie Vardy scored twice and Danny Drinkwater bagged the goal of the night in-between, with Liverpool pulling one back through Philippe Coutinho but not warranting any more. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!


90+4 min A shot from all of 50 yards ends on the roof of Mignolet's net, but there will barely be time for the Reds to mount an attacking move. Now into the final 60 seconds of the match - the Foxes moments away from a first win of 2017.

90+2 min Leicester camped inside their own backline at the moment, helping away every ball that makes its way into the area. Been so comfortable in this second half, in truth, even after Coutinho pulled one back with a quarter of the match left to play.

90 min Five minutes of time have been added on, meaning that there is still a chance for Liverpool to snatch a point. A third win in 12 outings looks a million miles away at this rate, though, as they are struggling to ask any questions of Leicester's defence.

88 min LEICESTER CITY SUB! Now into the closing stages of the match, signalling a chance for Shakespeare to make his final chance of the match. Chilwell is on for Albrighton, who has had a stormer this evening - as have pretty much all the Leicester players.

86 min SAVE! Schmeichel very fortunate, as he spills Woodburn's shot. The youngster was introduced a few moments ago and fancied his chances from range, but the Denmark international just about kept it out to spare his blushes.

84 min Fuchs has been very impressive tonight, another who has looked more like the player of 2015-16, as he helps thwart another Liverpool move. The Reds have barely mustered a serious attack since scoring their breakthrough goal.

82 min It is Liverpool doing all the pressing in the final quarter of this match, knowing that one goal will change the complexion of things. The latest Reds attack ends with the ball going behind for a goal kick, which Schmeichel is taking his time over.

80 min Lucas gets his head to the ball but fails to direct it on goal. Vardy takes a little blow to the head and is currently down receiving treatment, eating up some more valuable seconds. Woodburn is now being readied to come on for the visitors.

78 min CLOSE! Very close to a fourth Leicester goal, as Drinkwater sends a shot over the bar following a mazy run from Mahrez. The winger has now made way for Gray, who will add an injection of pace out wide.

76 min SAVE! A left-footed Fuchs shot is helped wide by Mignolet. Schmeichel now leading the cheerleading, urging players and fans alike to get over the line with around 14 minutes still on the clock. No sign of a second Liverpool goal.

74 min Origi felt that he was shoved to the floor inside the box, but referee Michael Oliver was well positioned and rightly waved play on. Good spell of pressure for the visitors, though they are barely doing enough to warrant a second goal.

72 min Another one of those balls around the back for Vardy to chase down. Mignolet was quickly out again and swept up well, but that direct route is giving Leicester so much joy this evening. Now into the final quarter of the match.

70 min Game on? Firmino does well to take on a couple of men and lays it off for Coutinho, who still had plenty to do but tucked the ball past the reach of Schmeichel to make it 3-1. Still 20 minutes to go and this one may not be over just yet.

69 min GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 3-1 LIVERPOOL (PHILIPPE COUTINHO)

68 min LIVERPOOL SUBS! Double change for Klopp, and not a minute too late. Moreno and Origi are on in place of Mane and Lallana, both of whom have made very little impact on this match. Been the case for Lallana since the turn of the year, really.

66 min SAVE! Lallana offers Liverpool's best response yet with a shot from range, which Schmeichel is again there to keep out. Cries of "Ranieri" around the King Power Stadium, with home fans acknowledging the work he did during his short time here.

64 min A display like this only makes you question Leicester's previous performances this season even more. Now THIS is a turning point in the season; a result that will lift City into 15th place and given them a new lease of life.

62 min Leicester have a third of the evening - surely enough for their first win of 2017. Another sloppy one for the Reds to concede, as Vardy got between Lucas and Can to direct Mahrez's left-sided cross into the bottom corner.

61 min GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 3-0 LIVERPOOL (JAMIE VARDY)

60 min Route one working wonders for the home side at the moment, as Schmeichel's goal kick is flicked on for Vardy to race on to. The Englishman helped it on to the roof of the net, but only after the offside flag had been raised.

58 min Mane has Huth where he wants him, cutting in from the left and looking for the bottom corner but being blocked by the Leicester defender. Just not happening for the visitors at the moment, though Klopp not yet ready to make a switch.

56 min SAVE! Coutinho with the first shot of the second half, which was simple enough for Schmeichel to deal with down low. A goal for Liverpool changes everything, but for now it is very comfortable for them.

54 min City seeing more of the ball now, looking for that direct route for Vardy over the top which won wonders in the first period. A good ball around the back is well handled by Mignolet, who was quickly off his line.

52 min Okazaki is currently limping around after picking up a knock. The Leicester man nearly got on the end of Vardy's cutback but there was not quite enough on it and Liverpool were able to defend. Slow start to the second half.

50 min Appears to be a case of Leicester seeing things through if the opening five minutes of this second half are anything to go by. Happy to fall back and clear away the ball when it arrives and potentially spring a break.

48 min Liverpool dominating possession in the early throes of this second half, with Leicester happy to sit back and soak up pressure. A breakdown in communication sees the ball go out for a throw, though, and City can regroup.

46 min RESTART! We are back up and running at the King Power Stadium, where neither manager has made a change. Not all that surprising due to the lack of options in the Reds' case, so it is down to those XI on the pitch to turn things around.


The half-time whistle sounds at the King Power Stadium, with the Foxes boasting a commanding two-goal advantage. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark and Danny Drinkwater added a second six minutes before the interval. Liverpool with it all to do; Leicester in dreamland and on the verge of a first win of the calendar year.


45+3 min HALF TIME: LEICESTER CITY 0-2 LIVERPOOL

45+2 min SAVE! Can looks to pick out the bottom corner with his shot from 25 yards out, which required a save to help it wide. A late flurry from the Reds at the end of this first half, but the whistle is now just seconds away.

45 min Two minutes of added time to come at the end of this first half. Mignolet clears the ball but is far from his goal, allowing Albrighton to have a pop from 50 yards out. Lacked the range and the precision, though.

43 min Half time is now just two minutes away, with Liverpool not looking likely to find a route back into the match. Klopp will be ruing the two-week break for his side at the moment, because they have yet to get going. Still plenty of time to go.

41 min The ball bounces around in Leicester's box but Schmeichel is there to collect. The Foxes' best first-half display in quite some time, and they are worthy of this two-goal advantage because they really have bee dominant from the off.

39 min It is an absolute screamer from Drinkwater to give Leicester a two-goal advantage! Long throws into the box have caused all sorts of problems so far, and the latest ball into box is only half-cleared by Milner. Drinkwater put his boot through it on the half-volley from 25 yards out and found the bottom corner

38 min GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-0 LIVERPOOL (DANNY DRINKWATER)

36 min SAVE! Vardy gets the better of Lucas and lays it off for Ndidi, who tests Mignolet from 10 yards out. Liverpool yet to truly get going in this contest, instead being made to do more defending than attacking.

34 min It has to be said - this really has been the Leicester of old. They have been on top pretty much throughout, testing Mignolet on a couple of occasions and scoring that crucial goal through Vardy a few minutes ago.

32 min SAVE! A chance for Liverpool to level up instantly. Coutinho is picked out towards the back post, but Schmeichel narrowed the angle and was able to keep it out. That would have been incredibly cruel had it crept in.

30 min Leicester have their first goal of 2017 - and it is one that we saw time and time again last term. Albrighton played the ball in behind and Vardy latched on to it, keeping his composure on this occasion and slotting it past Mignolet.

29 min GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 1-0 LIVERPOOL (JAMIE VARDY)

27 min Coutinho finds the ball at his feet on the edge of the box - the perfect place for him to cut inside and curl into the top corner. The Brazilian instead takes it down the line and is ushered off the ball. Poor decision made by the attacking ace.

25 min Leicester by far the better side in the opening quarter of the match, creating a couple of chances and also coming close through two corners. Coutinho's shot at the other end is curled into the body of Morgan and is cleared away.

23 min Four attempts so far this evening, all coming from Leicester. Two of those have been on target, too, forcing Mignolet into a couple of decent stops - one from a deflection inside the box and one from close range.

21 min SAVE! Vardy superbly takes down a ball over the top to work himself a one-on-one situation, but he fails to find a way past Mignolet. Credit to the Belgian for getting on top of the ball, but Vardy would have buried that last term.

19 min A quieter spell in the match now, with the ball spending plenty of time in midfield. Liverpool do get the ball into the final third, though, but Simpson got his head to it and was happy to concede a corner. The hosts bossing possession.

17 min CLOSE! The corner kick is another good one, which Huth and Morgan both charge down. It was Huth who got on the end of it, but he rather got under it and sent it over the crossbar. Some decent openings for Leicester so far.

15 min Okazaki has space to run into in midfield, drawing a foul out of Matip. The free kick is sprayed out to Mahrez, who has two men to beat and fails to do so, but he does have a corner kick for his troubles which will go into the mixer.

13 min Matip gets on the end of the corner, sending his free header over the bar, but a shove on Huth in the build-up leads to the referee blowing his whistle, regardless. Well-contested battle so far at the King Power Stadium, with 13 minutes played.

11 min Mane and Lallana link up down the left for the former to send in a cross towards the front post. It was crying out to be tapped home by Morgan did well to help the ball behind for a corner at full stretch, ending Liverpool's first serious attack.

9 min SAVE! Another long throw and another attempt on target for the hosts. The ball is only half cleared and Vardy's scuffed volley takes a deflection off Okazaki and is palmed clear by Mignolet.

7 min SAVE! As straightforward an attack you are likely to see, as Huth glances on a Fuchs long throw and picks out Mignolet at full stretch. Fairly simple save for the Belgian to make, in truth, but the Foxes doing well to work him early on.

5 min Huth does well to get his head on a deep corner, which is helped back into the mixer. Okazaki tried to get on the end of it but the offside flag was already up. Lucas in the heart of the Reds' defence again today in the absence of Klavan and Lovren.

3 min Mane is fine to continue, which is a relief to the Reds. Plenty of intent from Leicester early on, best summed up by that Vardy challenge just 30 seconds or so in. Expect plenty more challenges of that calibre to fly in.

1 min KICKOFF! Leicester City get us up and running in this huge Premier League showdown. A potential early blow for Liverpool, as Vardy catches Mane on the boot and the Senegalese is in a little pain - dodgy challenge, that!