Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he expected a mistake like Alisson’s howler against Leicester

Kelechi Iheanacho tackled the Liverpool goalkeeper to set up Leicester's goal which threatened a comeback at the King Power Stadium, but the Reds held on

Jurgen Klopp said he always anticipated a mistake from Alisson after the goalkeeper’s error set up a tense finish in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory against Leicester.

Sadio Mane and Roberto Fimrino gave Liverpool a first half lead, but after the break Leicester were the batter side and profited from Alisson’s howler to get themselves back into the game. With the ball at the by-line, the Liverpool goalkeeper tried to turn back on himself with the ball but was tackled by Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Leicester forward kept his cool and squared the ball to Rachid Ghezzal who tapped into an empty net. Many were shocked by Alisson’s error, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled it ‘sloppy’, but Klopp could see it coming.

“I thought it would happen [but] I didn’t think it would happen during [this] match,” the Liverpool manager said. “He knows it [was a mistake], we need to get used to it. We constantly get the ball to the keeper but the player needs to learn there are other solutions.

“Joe (Gomez) could have cleared the ball, Alisson could have too. That is how it is. He is a fantastic goalkeeper, makes some fantastic saves. He didn’t do what he was supposed to but it’s all good.”

Liverpool were on top in the first 45 minutes and had several chances to get themselves ahead before Mane opened the scoring. He collected Andy Robertson’s cut back pass and stabbed the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel to score his fourth goal of the season.

Liverpool’s Alisson looks dejected after Leicester City’s first goal (Reuters)

Firmino escaped Leicester’s attention and doubled the visitors’ lead from a corner, but Klopp said he wanted goals sooner in the game on a dry pitch.

“We could have scored earlier in the game, I said a few times in the past a dry pitch mean not good football, Leicester wanted to be aggressive but couldn’t because we moved so well. The moment the pitch got dry we needed too long to get used to it.

“Second half we have to control with the ball, we did that without the ball by dropping deeper. We were in a few situations a little lucky, but think we deserved to win.

“12 points, if someone told me that at the start of the season with fewer goals conceded it is a little better. The boys go to their international teams, they will hopefully all come back fit to Liverpool then we play the rest of the season.”

Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez conceded their first goal of the season after forming a good partnership at the heart of Liverpool’s defence. Gomez made an important tackle to deny James Maddison from scoring, and Klopp was pleased with the young defender’s performance.

“He was good, the plan was clear with Demarai Gray as a 9 to use his speed but Joe and Virgil are not too slow so it was not a good advantage for them. And they played football. The moment we were heading the high ball somewhere not to our man we looked lost.”