Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool prompt 'crazy' admission as Leicester left 'little bit frazzled'

Dean Smith admits Leicester City's gameplan backfired after Liverpool edged his team nearer relegation from the Premier League.

A brace from Curtis Jones was added to by Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Reds secured a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening.

Leicester have now taken just six points from their last 14 games and are two points away from safety with just two games remaining.

PAUL GORST MATCH VERIDCT: What Liverpool fans sang might have to change after Curtis Jones makes statement

IAN DOYLE ANALYSIS: New undroppable may be emerging as Darwin Nunez request speaks volumes

And having tweaked tactics in an attempt to nullify the threat of Alexander-Arnold, Smith said: “We were against a very good team.

"Our gameplan was to try and cover the middle of the pitch and stop Trent having as much influence as in recent games and maybe leaving Konate on the ball and the keeper and I thought we did that really well.

“I don’t think we made their centre-backs run back towards their own goal enough, we played in front of them which is what Liverpool are good at, they are a great counter-pressing team.

“Goals change games and I could throw their keeper probably 50 balls and they wouldn’t score with one of his big kicks over the top of our defence. It was a really disappointing goal to give away, and Jones scored a really good second goal. Both goals were marginally onside, unfortunately with VAR it didn’t seem to go for us.

“Our minds get a little bit frazzled for whatever reason and we could have conceded a third from the kick-off. It was crazy what we did from the kick-off. We needed to get in without further pain at half-time.

“We got a bounce when we put the subs on but unfortunately the referee killed that with the third goal as it was never a free-kick. It allows a team with very good players to have a free shot from 20 yards and he put it in the top corner. That was pretty much game done.”

Smith added: “We got beat by a team who physically overran us when they got the two-goal lead, supreme athletes and really good players. I wouldn’t question our fight and attitude, but I understand the supporters. If you’re losing 3-0 at home in a relegation battle, they aren’t going to be happy. Of course, I still believe we can stay up.”

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.