This match may not have had the scintillating impact of Craig Shakespeare’s first meeting with Liverpool as Leicester manager but the result was the same.
In February, Liverpool were blown away under the King Power floodlights as Shakespeare made his bow having replaced Claudio Ranieri. Although this victory took more time to develop, the feeling will be just as sweet.
Shinji Okazaki broke the deadlock and 12 minutes from time Islam Slimani provided the exclamation mark with a strike that ripped into the roof of the net.
This result will irritate Jurgen Klopp, who has unfinished business in this competition. He went to the final in his first season, losing on penalties to Manchester City, and was questioned over his selection for January’s semi-final defeat by Southampton.
These two will now do it all again here on Saturday evening in the Premier League. Priorities were in evidence at the outset last night, with Shakespeare making seven changes from the weekend and Klopp seven.
In need of game time, Philippe Coutinho was one to keep his place.
Shakespeare’s strategy seemed clear. Seven of Leicester’s outfield players were over six foot tall, including two big strikers in Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa.
In contrast, Liverpool were always going to go along the ground and that very nearly provided a way through inside five minutes. Coutinho fed Andrew Robertson on the left and his low cross set up Oxlade-Chamberlain with the goal at his mercy. But Ben Chilwell produced an outstanding block to divert behind.
Five minutes later Coutinho was at his prancing best, finding a route through Iborra and Wilfred Ndidi to strike a hard shot from the edge of the box that Ben Hamer punched away. Hamer then held on when Coutinho tried again from longer range.
The Brazilian was very much in the mood and the catalyst for Liverpool’s offensive forays. His dribble from deep in the 21st minute enabled Roberston to pick out a superb cross that Solanke ought to have done far better with.
Five minutes later another burst from Coutinho set up Solanke, whose shot was blocked to Roberston. He fired wide.
Leicester were ragged in possession and not finding the outlet expected via their front duo.
Joe Gomez was a key factor in that, the 20-year-old enjoying a rare start in his preferred centre-back position and showing ability beyond his age in marshalling both Slimani and Ulloa.
Demarai Gray brought Leicester’s brightest moment, a lightening run from midfield but tame shot as he fell off balance.
Job done in terms of gaining match sharpness, Coutinho was replaced at the break. On in his place went Ben Woodburn, the 17-year-old who made quite an impact for Wales.
Ulloa was forced off not long after having fallen awkwardly clearing a corner, with Shinji Okazaki on as replacement. And in the 65th minute, Liverpool only cleared Marc Albrighton’s corner as far as Chilwell, who delivered the perfect lofted pass back into the area. Wes Morgan headed square, Iborra nodded down and Okazaki arrived to steer home via a deflection off Robertson.
In search of a goal Klopp sent on Danny Ings for his first appearances since last October.
But it was Leicester who scored. Okazaki fed Slimani and the Algerian bustled his way into space on the edge of the area, then hit the purest of left-foot drives.
Leicester (4-4-2): Hamer 7; Amartey 6.5, Morgan 8, Dragovic 7, Chilwell 7.5; Albrighton 7, Iborra 7, Ndidi 6 (Choudhury 84mins), Gray 7; Ulloa 6 (Okazaki 53, 7), Slimani 7.
Subs not used: Iheanacho, Musa, Jakupovic, Mahrez, Benalouane.
Scorers: Okazaki 65, Slimani 78.
Manager: Craig Shakespeare 7.5.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Ward 6.5; Flanagan 6, Gomez 7, Klavan 6, Robertson 7; Wijnaldum 7 (Ings 73, 6), Henderson 6.5, Grujic 5; Oxlade-Chamberlain 5, Solanke 6, Coutinho 7 (Woodburn 45, 6.5).
Booked: Grujic, Klavan.
Subs not used: Karius, Milner, Moreno, Markovic, Alexander-Arnold.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp.
Man of the match: Wes Morgan
Referee: Stuart Atwell.
Attendance: 31,609.
By Laurie Whitwell
