Jurgen Klopp has come under fire for throwing Sadio Mane straight into his starting XI to face Burnley on Sunday.
Liverpool managed to claim all three points against the Clarets but they were hardly convincing on a brutal day at Turf Moor.
With the wind swirling and rain hurtling down, the Reds were at risk of falling further behind Manchester City in the title race.
As it was, a well-positioned Fabinho was on hand to score the winner from another set-piece - making it his fifth goal in seven matches.
However, it was a tough match for Mane who could not get up to full steam while BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks took aim at Klopp.
He could not understand why the forward was named in the starting line-up so soon after returning from AFCON.
Mane had returned to Liverpool a few days after Mohamed Salah as he was allowed to celebrate winning the competition with Senegal.
Crooks said in his Team of the Week column for BBC Sport: “Why Sadio Mane started this game, so soon after his exploits in the Africa Cup of Nations, is a mystery to me, especially as Diogo Jota is in such good form. If anyone needs a break Mane does.”
The former Tottenham player added: “Mohamed Salah, followed shortly afterwards by Sadio Mane, comes back from the Africa Cup of Nations final and is immediately placed on the bench against Leicester City, and both are in the starting line-up to face Burnley three days later - a great break!
“I don't blame Mane in the slightest taking his time returning from Dakar after Senegal's first Nations Cup triumph. Salah and Mane actually deserve a winter break.
“It seems to me the only people who had any rest throughout this rather confusing period were the managers.”
Klopp has already moved to clear up the situation after admitting that Jota came into the match with a small injury, preventing him from starting against Burnley.
"Jota was due to start, with Sadio coming from the bench today but Jota had a dead leg and couldn't train yesterday," the German said prior to kick-off. "Now he looks fine but we were not sure."
There was also a drop to the bench for new signing Luis Diaz, who was mightily impressive on his debut against Leicester last Thursday.
"He has the skillset and character. One of the best first games I saw from a new player but we have to see how he adapts, there's no rush," Klopp said of Diaz.
"It was a good chance to start him with Sadio not here and Mo back from an intense tournament. Yes, Luis showed up."
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