'Gets outmuscled': Michael Owen says two Liverpool players could have done far better against Leicester tonight
Yesterday at 05:45 PM
Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win against Leicester City at Anfield.
After Chelsea’s defeat against Fulham earlier today, the Reds knew they had a glorious chance to increase their lead at the top and did just that, although it wasn’t easy.
Jordan Ayew gave Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side an early lead to silence the Anfield faithful, but Liverpool responded through Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah to turn the tide in their favour.
It was a successful night for Liverpool at home, but Michael Owen feels two of their players didn’t cover themselves in too much glory in the first half.
Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson criticised for role in opening goal
Gakpo was Liverpool’s best player against Leicester as he capped off one of his best performances of the season with a goal.
However, before he scored a fantastic equaliser before half-time, the Reds were in a spot of bother as Ayew gave the Foxes the lead.
It was a fantastic finish from the experienced striker, but Virgil van Dijk didn’t cover too much to prevent the ball from reaching Patson Daka, who then laid it off to Ayew.
Andy Robertson, on the other hand, was spun by the Ghanaian before the goal, giving Alisson Becker no chance between the sticks as the ball also took a deflection.
And while analyzing the goal at half-time, Owen feels the two Liverpool defenders could have defended that passage of play a lot better.
"I think Van Dijk could have defended it better,” said Owen to Premier League productions.
“I'm not centre half, but I think he should've dropped and cut that line off. If the ball comes back out to his man Daka, he can always get out there.
“If he stands in his position, I think he just cuts that out, takes a touch and plays his way out. As it happens, he just lets that ball dribble across.
“Robertson gets outmuscled and as you can see, the ball takes a deflection and creeps into the goal."
Liverpool won’t really mind that one
Both Van Dijk and Robertson could have done better for the goal but Liverpool won’t let it bother them too much as they got three more points in the Premier League.
It was a tough game on a foggy night, but their quality came to the fore, particularly in the second half.
Arne Slot has now won 22 of his 27 games in charge of the club in all competitions and will look to get three more points when they face West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday.
