Matchday Live Talking Points: Sustaining Pressure & Sticking Around
- Gerry Taggart, Steve Walsh and Steve Guppy provide their thoughts on Leicester City’s 2-1 loss to Liverpool
- The ex-Foxes stars were speaking on LCFC Radio’s Matchday Live following the encounter at Anfield
- Extra-Time will provide further analysis at 6pm BST on Monday
The former Foxes trio were all on hand to cover the clash on LCFC Radio, with Guppy and Walsh watching on from the studio at King Power Stadium and Taggart positioned in the pressbox at Anfield.
Having got themselves back on level terms thanks to James Maddison’s 80th-minute equaliser, an injury-time penalty from James Milner saw Brendan Rodgers’ men return to Leicester empty-handed.
The nature of Leicester’s gritty display, the manner in which they absorbed Liverpool’s pressure and how they react to the slender loss were all topics of discussion at the full-time whistle on Matchday Live.
Leicester deserved a point
Gerry Taggart said: “You have to say that Leicester City would have deserved a point away from home to the best team in the league so far this season. Yes, it wasn’t pretty at times, but they clawed their way back into the game with a fantastic move and a good finish from James Maddison, after he was moved away from the left-hand side and back into the middle, where he’s at his most potent.”
Sustaining pressure
Steve Walsh said: “It was a tough one, it really was. They sustained a lot of pressure in that second half. The game became stretched and there was wave after wave of Liverpool attacks. We got into the game, got ourselves in with a point possibly and it looked like we’d push on from there. It’s disappointing to lose after being just a few minutes away from a great point.”
Sticking around
Steve Guppy said: “I don’t think Leicester did enough to win it, but what they did was stuck around and they weathered it when they needed to. Kasper [Schmeichel] came up with some great saves when he needed to and then they got that one chance to score. James Maddison stuck it away and it would have been a nice draw. It was a different type of Leicester performance than what we’ve seen so far this season.”
Always a threat
Gerry Taggart said: “Somehow, Liverpool won again. Let’s face it, running up to the end of this game, the fans, players and manager were all clinging on for dear life. Yes, Liverpool created plenty of chances, but if you don’t take them, then you’re always susceptible. That’s what part Leicester City played today in this game – they were always a threat in the second half and always lurking.”
Pushing a top-class team
Steve Walsh said: “To lose in that fashion, that will take a few days to get out of their system because Leicester have pushed a top-class team there to the limit of getting a point at Anfield, like we did last year. I’m gutted for the lads because they deserved more with the effort and resilience that they put in.”
Positives to take
Steve Guppy said: “You could see a lot of other teams wilting under the pressure in that game. Liverpool created chances and they’re a top team, so they’re going to do that against most teams, but Leicester got themselves level. There are positives to take – they showed a different type of performance, but it’s unfortunate and they can move on.”