Leicester City 0-3 Liverpool
by Layth Yousif
at Filbert Way

A MERE seven years ago Leicester City stunned the football world by winning the Premier League in one of sport's greatest fairy tales. Fast-forward to 2023 and this homely club staffed with good people behind the scenes has been ailing on the pitch.

On Monday evening in front of a pre-match rainbow, with local band Kasabian booming out over the speakers, Dean Smith's side required a victory to move them out of the relegation places. Lose and their fight to stay in the top-flight would be taken out of their hands.

As the atmosphere grew before kick-off the PA announcer asked that the 32,225 fans in attendance kindly leave their clappers behind for others to use in the next game.

Recycle and reuse. Just like 2016 hero Jamie Vardy, who made Smith's starting XI, along with former Manchester United defender, the veteran Jonny Evans, making his first start since October. While Reds captain Jordan Henderson started his 300th league game for Liverpool.

For their part, a win for Jurgen Klopp's sclerotic Reds would see them move to within a point of bitter rivals United in fourth spot, albeit having played a game more. The scene was set.

Unsurprisingly it was Vardy who nearly broke the deadline in the 12th minute. Having been played into the box by the lively Harvey Barnes, Liverpool keeper Alisson blocked well to deny the evergreen 36-year-old.

During a break in play following an intense opening period full of endeavour if not end product, another red vs blue clash played out when Liverpool fans massed in the away end sang: “Fuck The Tories.” Which in turn was met with a rendition of “God Save the King” from the home support, followed by hearty boos from the away end.

Just like the local elections last week, red dominated blue as first Luis Diaz fired wide, prior to Fabinho driving over Daniel Iverson's bar as Klopp's side aimed to become the winning candidates.

However, just as every ballot is determined by the people that show up, on 33 minutes it was time for Jones to stand up and be counted when he put Liverpool 1-0 ahead following an excellent ball from the world-class Mohamed Salah.

One hundred and eighty seconds later Jones doubled the lead with his second strike of the evening. Salah again assisting as the excellent Reds threatened a landslide.

The rapid double made it three goals in four matches for Jones, after notching as many in his previous 57 appearances, as boos rang out at half-time from the home fans.

Speaking after the match, the Foxes deflated interim boss Smith said: “I wouldn't question our attitude (but) I understand why fans react in certain ways.”

Leicester came out for the second half with their top tier status at stake. Vardy played the ball to Youri Tielemans — who, on this day exactly two years ago fired home the winner against Chelsea to win the 2021 FA Cup for the Foxes to add to their title triumph. The Belgium international fed Barnes, whose shot was tipped wide by Alisson five minutes after the interval. But, alas, that was it from the home side.

Amid vociferous support from the Liverpool contingent, Klopp's side weathered the brief storm, before Trent Alexander-Arnold sealed the match with a stunning long-range strike on 71 minutes.

The goal came after Salah notched a hat-trick of assists, the easiest of the trio coming when he simply rolled the ball to the 24-year-old from a free-kick on the edge of the area.

The sometime England international duly unleashed a powerful strike that flew past Iversen and into the net. And in front of previously recalcitrant watching England boss Gareth Southgate no less. The goal prompting jubilant celebrations between team and fans in the away end.

With the worst-case scenario now a sixth placed finish, when asked if he was relieved to secure European football for this mighty club, Klopp admitted: “Massively. Six, seven weeks ago I didn’t believe it could happen. What we lacked at the time was consistency.”

Liverpool have certainly had that attribute recently. Reflecting on his side’s performance, Klopp said: “It was good, really good… the game never became the game it could have been — a real fight — because we controlled it.”

The difference in the soundtrack from the Foxes was stark, as frustrated chants of “You're not fit to wear the shirt” came from home fans.

Perhaps there would have been more sympathy from neutrals if a number of Leicester fans hadn't utterly shamed themselves by making Hillsborough references during the first half.

As it was, the match played out its conclusion in front of increasingly empty blue seats, with supporters appearing to be resigned to the drop.

Smith's side now face a testing trip to Newcastle, prior to hosting West Ham on the final afternoon, but crucially their destiny is no longer in their own hands.

Smith insisted he could keep the club in the division, despite a sixth loss in nine games, saying afterwards more in hope than defiance: “Yes, of course I do. I would be stupid if I sat here and said: 'No'.”

But whatever way you look at it, with the club remaining in 19th, two points from safety with two matches left, the fact is that relegation looms large for Leicester.

A mere seven years on from their greatest triumph.