Extra-Time Talking Points: Anfield Frustration, City's Start To 2019/20 & The International Break
Extra-Time is an hour-long show broadcast on LCFC Radio on Monday evenings following each first team fixture - on this occasion reflecting on City's 2-1 defeat by Premier League leaders, Liverpool.
Over the course of the episode, available as a podcast now, Foxes favourites Tony Cottee, Steve Guppy and Gerry Taggart, in the company of host Dan Bates, picked out their biggest talking points...
A frustrating end
Gerry Taggart said: “It was very frustrating for everyone concerned. Marc Albrighton's done absolutely fantastic with that recovery run to take the ball off [Divock] Origi and then there was a little bit of indecision between Marc and the 'keeper (Kasper Schmeichel) who looked like he was coming out, and then it was misfortune. It went to VAR, but I still think, in my mind, it's very harsh. I've not seen a referee go to the screen to clarify the situation, just to be doubly sure.”
City defended well
Tony Cottee said: “I watched the game and I thought it was a really good performance. How often do we see Liverpool go a goal up and then they get a second, a third, a fourth, and absolutely run all over teams? I thought defensively as a team, Leicester played really, really well and we know that when you get that chance, you have to take it at Anfield. If I’m one of those Leicester players, I would be absolutely gutted in the dressing room. They deserved at least a point.”
A good start
Steve Guppy said: “I think everyone knows that it’s been a good start to the season. The performances have been there, individually and collectively. They’ll be happy but, in a way, they might not be too happy that it’s the international break. They want their next game to come round but I’m sure some of the other managers in the league are almost looking forward to the break, but Brendan [Rodgers] might be a little disappointed that he’s losing the group.”
The door creeks open
Gerry Taggart said: “The door (at the top of the table) is getting wider and wider as the weeks go on. You see Tottenham and Manchester United getting beat and Chelsea are level on points with Leicester. Arsenal are up and around it – which you expect – but there’s definitely a window of opportunity here for Leicester. There’s a few games coming up after the international break where you have to fancy Leicester.”
Award nominations
Tony Cottee said: “It was a fantastic goal by [James] Maddison (vs. Tottenham), but there were a lot of great goals this month. As much as you want to win the personal awards, the main objective is when you get to May next year, and that’s when you pick up your prizes and your awards and you assess your achievements. Hopefully that includes Leicester being in contention for Europe again.”
Concentrate on international duty
Steve Guppy said: “It’s incredible the amount of England players Leicester could have. When they are away, you do tend to get a little more time off if you remain, or you get a chance to work on your own game. Some of the foreign lads may get a chance to go back home and see their families as well, so it’s an important period. The lads who do go away, they need to forget about their club football because there’s a lot at stake in those qualifiers.”