Substitute Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed the Hungarian hammer as Liverpool enjoyed an exciting comeback win after an early setback at Anfield.
After Jurgen Klopp’s side found themselves trailing for the fifth time in eight matches to Kasey McAteer’s controversial breakaway, Cody Gakpo levelled early in the second half before Szoboszlai was introduced with Darwin Nunez after 65 minutes.
Within five minutes, the midfielder proved himself the match-winner, unleashing a 25-yard piledriver into the top corner worth of another Reds No8, Steven Gerrard. Diogo Jota then sealed the deal with an impudent late third.
Liverpool made 10 changes against the Championship leaders with only captain-for-the-night Curtis Jones retained from the starting line-up that beat West Ham on Saturday.
Leicester had led 2-0 at Anfield in 2021 before Liverpool knocked them out on the way to winning the Carabao Cup and the visitors had another early shock in store.
Dominik Szoboszlai (centre) came off the bench to score Liverpool’s second goal against Leicester in the Carabao Cup
The midfielder rifled an effort into the top corner from distance within five minutes of coming off the bench
MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher 6: Jones 6 (Bajcetic 79), Quansah 6, Konate 6.5, Tsimikas 6.5 (Chambers 90); Elliott 7, Endo 6, Gravenberch 6.5 (Szoboszlai 65 7); Jota 5.5, Gakpo 8, Doak 7.5 (Nunez 65 6.5)
Subs not used: Adrian, van Dijk, Matip, Mac Allister, Diaz
Goal: Gakpo 48, Szoboszlai 70, Jota 89
Booked: Endo
Leicester: Stolarczyk 7.5: Pereira 6.6, Souttar 6, Coady 6.5, Justin 6; Akgun 7 (Fatawu 64 6), Choudhury 6, Casadei 6.5 (Ndidi 57 6); Albrighton 6 (Dewsbury-Hall 64 6), Iheanacho 5.5 (Daka 64 6), McAteer 6.5
Subs not used: Hermansen, Faes, Vestergaard, Ndidi, Winks, Mavididi
Goal: McAteer 3
Booked: Pereira, Choudhury
Referee: Tim Robinson 5.5
Reds defender Kostas Tsimikas was bundled over by Marc Albrighton but when referee Tim Robinson allowed play to continue, Leicester broke quickly.
Yunus Akgun had time and space to play in McAteer who broke clear and finished low past Caoimhin Kelleher.
With no VAR in use, home protests were in vain though The Kop would have seen the irony of conceding to McAteer, whose namesake Jason was one of their favourites in the 1990s.
n use, home protests were in vain though The Kop would have seen the irony of conceding to McAteer, whose namesake Jason was one of their favourites in the 1990s.
Liverpool should have levelled before half-time but the Foxes goal led a charmed life.
Goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk saved from Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott smashed a shot against the woodwork from an acute angle.
Former Liverpool defender and boyhood fan Conor Coady then kept his side ahead with a goal-line clearance from Gakpo’s header following a Tsimikas’ free-kick.
With Storm Agnes whipping up the wind, Leicester’s playing out from the back almost got them into trouble and Liverpool finally levelled after 48 minutes.
Gravenberch fed Gakpo and the striker turned Harry Souttar before burying his chance in the bottom corner for his first Anfield goal since the 7-0 rout of Manchester United in March.
Again, a debate about whether he was offside was immaterial because of the absence of the technology.
Gakpo thought he’d put Liverpool ahead when his looping header from Harvey Elliott’s cross hit theunderside of the cross-bar. Half the ball had crossed the line – but not all of it.
Kasey McAteer had given Championship leaders Leicester a surprise lead after three minutes
Cody Gakpo levelled things up not too long after the break for hosts Liverpool at Anfield
Diogo Jota (second left) netted a third for Jurgen Klopp’s side as they secured what was ultimately a comfortable victory
Liverpool haven’t been beaten at home since February or anywhere since April and Klopp responded to the 1-1 scoreline by sending on two of his big guns.
Nunez’s run after 70 minutes caused commotion in the Leicester penalty area and when the ball broke to Wataru Endo, he laid back to Szoboszlai who absolutely nailed his finish.
Another pleasing aspect for Klopp was the performance of 17-year-old Ben Doak who impressed on the right and the final highlight came right at the end.
Defender Jarell Quansah broke into the Leicester box and when he cut back to Jota, he flicked the ball with is instep so the ball rolled gently into the corner.
