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Liverpool were welcomed at the King Power Stadium by the sight of a hearse with flowers spelling out 'RIP Football'. Jurgen Klopp's players seemed to take the message literally.

What followed was a lifeless performance as the shoddy Reds were deservedly put to the sword by a revitalised Leicester City.

The wake following Claudio Ranieri's shock sacking turned into a night of celebration for the champions and Liverpool proved to be the perfect guests as they simply rolled over.

So much for that commanding victory over Tottenham proving to be a turning point after such a miserable start to 2017.

So much for that 16-day break and bonding trip to La Manga giving the Reds the perform platform to step up their push for Champions League qualification.

There could be no excuses for such a pitiful display.

Make no mistake, Liverpool got bullied. They got outfought and outworked as they lost battles all across the field.

After all the flak the Leicester players had taken for their part in Ranieri's downfall there was always going to be reaction, but Klopp's side didn't come close to matching the hosts' show of energy and desire and that's unacceptable.

With Craig Shakespeare in the home dugout, the Reds' served up a Comedy of Errors as defensive weaknesses were glaringly exposed.

Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater fired the Foxes into a 2-0 lead at the break before Vardy's second of the night put the outcome beyond doubt.

Philippe Coutinho's seventh goal of the season provided a glimmer of hope but Liverpool never looked like salvaging anything.

For those in the travelling Kop there was a sense of deja vu as Leicester became the fifth side in the bottom half of the table to claim the Reds' scalp this term.

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The blueprint they followed was painfully familiar. The Foxes sat back, packed the central areas and forced Liverpool wide as they defended in numbers and then hit Klopp's men on the counter-attack.

The Reds enjoyed 69% possession but did precious little with it. This was Hull City away revisited.

Klopp is adamant that Liverpool don't have a problem when it comes to facing that kind of stubborn opponent but the results don't lie.

Lack of depth brought into sharp focus

The players let Klopp down but he also has to have a look in the mirror because the game plan for these type of matches just isn't working.

This was a night that also brought into sharp focus the lack of depth in Klopp's squad and the folly of not strengthening during the January window.

Over the course of the evening Liverpool had two midfielders playing at centre-back and another one at left-back. Square pegs in round holes.

In the absence of captain Jordan Henderson, who was ruled out by a foot injury, there was a chronic lack of leadership. Nobody took responsibility.

The relegation threatened Foxes, who hadn't scored a Premier League goal in 2017 let alone won a game, were combative from the off and Liverpool found themselves with their backs firmly pressed against the wall early on.

Vardy set the tone with the striker fortunate to get away with planting his studs on Sadio Mane's boot.

Christian Fuchs' long throws caused plenty of problems with Simon Mignolet clinging on to deny Robert Huth before turning away Shinji Okazaki's header.

Liverpool belatedly settled but despite enjoying plenty of the ball they rarely threatened.

The front four of Adam Lallana, Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho failed to fire. There was none of the spark or swagger which repeatedly carved Spurs apart.

Joel Matip tried to inject some life into proceedings as he strode forward with purpose but for the most part Liverpool's build up play was slow and predictable.

Most alarming was Leicester's ability to spark panic with the most basic of ale-house tactics

Full-backs James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne failed to provide any semblance of quality down the flanks. Neither was there any control in midfield with Gini Wijnaldum a pale shadow of the man who bossed proceedings against Spurs.

What was most alarming was Leicester's ability to spark panic with the most basic of ale-house tactics.

After Kasper Schmeichel launched it down field, Vardy was allowed to bring it down and get away from both Lucas Leiva and Matip before scuffing at Mignolet.

Liverpool were clinging on and their luck ran out just before the half hour mark.

Wijnaldum's error close to halfway was pounced on by Marc Albrighton, who expertly released Vardy. The England international raced through and coolly tucked it past Mignolet.

Cutinho could have restored parity but the angle was tight and Schmeichel made the block.

Six minutes before the break Liverpool's plight deepened. Milner's defensive header from Albrighton's cross was poor and Drinkwater made him pay, unleashing a sweetly struck right-footer which nestled in the bottom corner.

Klopp responded at the interval by going to three at the back with Can, who was one of the few to make a real contribution, forced into duty as a left-sided centre-back.

Liverpool remained a distant second best. Lessons simply weren't learned as the struggling Lucas was repeatedly left one on one in a foot race with Vardy. It was a mismatch.

At the other end Firmino was way off the pace and when he did get some decent service his touch let him down badly.

Liverpool's fate was sealed on the hour mark. Once again they were architects of their own downfall.

Lallana stood off Fuchs and senselessly allowed him to cross from the left.

The delivery was pinpoint and Vardy got above Can to nod into the far corner.

Divock Origi and Alberto Moreno replaced the ineffective Lallana and Mane but it was akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Coutinho provided a lifeline when he slotted home from the edge of the box after a surging run and inviting lay-off from Can.

The Germany international then had appeals for a penalty waved away before Origi was thwarted by Schmeichel at his near post.

The Danish keeper unconvincingly kept out Coutinho's volley but Liverpool's late revival was far too little, far too late.



MATCH FACTS

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Mahrez (Gray 79), Okazaki (Amartey 69), Albrighton (Chilwell 90), Vardy. Subs: King, Slimani, Zieler, Ulloa. GOALS: Vardy 28, 60, Drinkwater 39.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas (Woodburn 84), Milner, Lallana (Origi 66), Can, Wijnaldum, Mane (Moreno 66), Firmino, Coutinho. Subs: Karius, Klavan, Stewart, Alexander-Arnold. GOAL: Coutinho 68.

REFEREE: Michael Oliver.

ATT: 32,034.

Man of the match: Emre Can. Best of a bad bunch.