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Leicester logo
Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 22, 2017 at 1.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

1-2

Slimani (12')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Salah (20'), Coutinho (44')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Liverpool's 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
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Liverpool have won the eighth staging of the Premier League Asia Trophy with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City.

The Merseyside giants fell behind as early as the 12th minute when Islam Slimani netted with a header at the back post, but Mohamed Salah soon equalised for his new side.

Philippe Coutinho would score what would prove to be the decisive goal a minute before the break, and Liverpool were able to hold on to secure a boost ahead of the new campaign.

Read below to see how the action unfolded in Hong Kong.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League Asia Trophy final between Leicester City and Liverpool in Hong Kong.

It's a live commentary fest with Sports Mole today and that continues with the Premier League Asia Trophy final between these two English sides. We have already witnessed Crystal Palace come out on top in the third-place playoff, and now either Liverpool or Leicester will attempt to win the eighth staging of this competition.

With just over 20 minutes until kickoff in Hong Kong, it's about time we cracked on with the team news, starting with Leicester.

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Maguire, Morgan, Fuchs, Drinkwater, James, Albrighton, Mahrez, Vardy, Slimani

LIVERPOOL XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino, Origi

Leicester include summer signing Harry Maguire in their starting lineup, while Riyad Mahrez also features despite being linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium. Matty James starts after a long-term knee injury, while Islam Slimani gets the opportunity to impress interested clubs.

As for Liverpool, Klopp has selected what can only be described as an extremely attacking starting lineup. Georginio Wijnaldum appears to be the most defensive-minded player ahead of the defence, with the Merseyside giants short on central midfielder after the sale of Lucas Leiva and the late start to pre-season of Emre Can. Loris Karius gets the chance to impress in goal, while Mohamed Salah features in attack as he looks to make an impression since his big-money move from Roma.

Before we get started, remember that if the game is level after 90 minutes, we will head straight to penalties. That's how Leicester earned their place in the final.

The two teams are making their way at the Hong Kong Stadium. We appear to be very close to capacity, which shows you both the pull of Liverpool and the Premier League. We should have a pretty excitable atmosphere for this match.

Leicester get us underway.

It's been a very fast start with both teams not being shy in going on the offensive. Liverpool have little option to do anything otherwise given the players that have been selected, but it has left them open to the counter-attack.

SHOT! Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for Coutinho but he doesn't appear to be that distracted at this stage. He switches the ball onto his right foot before seeing a curling effort comfortably saved by Schmeichel.

Liverpool continue to have the better of the play, but Leicester have attempted to hit back with a corner, although that came to nothing. I can't see this match ending goalless.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Liverpool (Slimani)

This is probably why Leicester are demanding so much money for Slimani. Leicester take the lead by taking advantage of the Algerian's best quality - his aerial prowess. Albrighton finds Fuchs and after the Austrian crosses from the byline, Slimani gets above Milner to head home at the back post.

When he is "on it", Mahrez can be unplayable and he is currently in that mood. He may be turning it on for his own benefit, rather than Leicester's, but he does brilliantly to win a free kick on the edge of the area. Unfortunately, Drinkwater's eventual effort is struck straight into the wall.

Klopp is getting very animated on the touchline. Doesn't sound like him, does it? He is berating the referee and truth be told, he should really be sent to the stands. The referee listens to him and ignores him, though, in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Liverpool (Salah)

What a goal this is. Salah starts the move with a pass to Coutinho from the right but he continues his run and after the Brazilian finds him with a floated pass, his header is placed into the bottom corner from around 10 yards out.

We had a drinks break after that equaliser but Liverpool went straight back onto the offensive after the restart. Salah looks very impressive and already seems to be striking up a relationship with Coutinho.

SHOT! It's Firmino's turn to get a shot away, but his curler is too close to Schmeichel, who barely has to move to make the save.

We reach the half-hour mark still on level terms but I'm not sure how. Liverpool have started to go through the gears and while they still look vulnerable at the back, they look like scoring each time they go forward.

SHOT! Back come Leicester, with Albrighton cutting inside from the left flank to get a shot away with his right. However, from 25 yards, he was always going to struggle to beat Karius and his strike went wide of the near post.

SHOT! Lovren does well to draw a foul out of Maguire on the right flank - what both players were doing there in the first place, I don't know. Anyway, Coutinho swings a ball into the box and after Schmeichel's punch only finds Wijnaldum, his volley gets deflected wide of the post.

At times, it is almost as if Salah is toying with the Leicester defence. He looks much improved from the player who disappointed at Chelsea. His end product is leaving a bit to be desired, however.

SUBSTITUTION! Liverpool make a change with Milner being replaced by Alberto Moreno. The knock doesn't look serious but he was indicating that it was an issue to do with his thigh.

BOOKING! The referees are still taking things serious in Hong Kong. Mahrez cynically pulls the shirt of Coutinho and is booked.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool (Coutinho)

The standard of this first half has been high, but Coutinho has just taken it to another level. After picking up the ball on the left, he drifted inside before lashing a well-struck effort into the far corner from 20 yards. Schmeichel had no chance.

HALF TIME: Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool

The half-time whistle goes in Hong Kong and Liverpool deservedly lead thanks to goals from Salah and Coutinho. Leicester started well but the Merseyside giants have since taken control. Liverpool have every reason to up Coutinho's asking price based on this display.

The two teams have made their way back out. Liverpool are making several alterations with Ragnar Klavan, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge among those being introduced. Leicester have also made changes, and we will bring you those in the next few minutes.

Liverpool get us back underway.

Going back to those Leicester changes, Andy King, Danny Simpson and Tom Lawrence have all come on.

CHANCE! Karius hasn't always been the most convincing but he produces a fine block to keep out Vardy, who only had to lift the ball over the goalkeeper to score an equaliser for his side.

SHOT! Grujic - who also came on at half time - almost scores a screamer. A cross from Henderson found it's way to the Serbian Under-21 international, but his scissor-kick just cleared the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes for both teams. For Liverpool, Joe Gomez and Ben Woodburn are replacing Alexander-Arnold and Coutinho. For Leicester, James and Drinkwater are making way for Wilfried Ndidi and Vicente Iborra.

The goalmouth action has subsided somewhat over the past few minutes. It's no surprise that the pace of the game has dropped to accommodate the introductions, while the remaining players are starting to flag given the time of pre-season we are at.

SHOT! Sturridge tries his luck from 25 yards but he was never going to beat Schmeichel from there.

SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes for Liverpool, who introduce Dominic Solanke and Ryan Kent and for Wijnaldu and Salah. As for Leicester, Ahmed Musa and Leonardo Ulloa are on for Mahrez and Vardy.

This game is currently lacking a spark. It's probably understandable given the pace at which this game started. There's no real rhythm now and you get the impression that it may take something special for Leicester to find an equaliser.

An injury to Grujic has led to a temporary stoppage, which has resulted in more fluids being taken on board. The midfielder is ok to continue, though, and we are back up and running.

SUBSTITUTIONS! I thought we were done with the changes but Yohan Benalouane has now been introduced for Leicester skipper Morgan.

With less than 10 minutes to go, we aren't really seeing Leicester mount any kind of a push for a leveller. There has been more balance to Liverpool's side since the introduction of Henderson and Grujic and they are currently controlling proceedings in the middle of the park.

SUBSTITUTION! I think this is the last one. Jon Flanagan is brought on for the final six minutes, with Lovren the man to make way.

This is better from Leicester, who get the ball out to Lawrence on the right flank. The Welsh midfielder deliveries a teasing cross into the middle but it misses everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

SHOT! Kent's 25-yard strike doesn't possess the power to beat Schmeichel, but the Dane does what is needed to push the ball away from goal.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool

The full-time whistle goes in Hong Kong and Liverpool have comfortably held on to secure a 2-1 win over Leicester City, a result which sees them claim the Premier League Asia Trophy. Salah and Coutinho got the goals as they Merseyside giants ran out deserved winners over the Foxes.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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