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Analysing Wes Morgan’s composed return to form in Leicester City’s victory over Liverpool
For the past two Premier League campaigns, Leicester City captain Wes Morgan has been the complete epitome of his side; awesome and heroic last year, yet woeful and spineless this season.
This pattern was the case once again on Monday evening as Leicester secured a vital victory over Champions League-chasing Liverpool – the Foxes stepped up after Claudio Ranieri’s shock exit in the previous week, and so did Morgan.
Although most of the praise will go to goal-scorers Vardy and Drinkwater for their exploits, Leicester’s Jamaican defender played a huge, underrated role at the King Power Stadium and led his side superbly to a morale-boosting and unexpected win over Jurgen Klopp’s struggling side.
It’s easy to forget that, if it wasn’t for Morgan’s last-ditch sliding effort to stop Joel Matip from having a simple tap in within the opening ten minutes, last night would have been a completely different story – Liverpool would have gone 1-0 up, and it almost certainly would have been a step too far to overturn.
Instead, the 33-year-old showed grit and determination to cut out the low cross and – at the same time – give himself a much-needed confidence booster ahead of a solid match.
When called upon for the rest of the match Morgan stood strong, using his strength and power expertly to hold up the fresh legs of Divock Origi when one-on-one with the Leicester defender.
Leicester’s defence has been heavily criticised this season for their lack of fight, accused of making it too easy for the opposition to score, yet Morgan – as well as centre-back partner Robert Huth – put in a rousing display that showed signs that there’s life in the two Premier League veterans yet.
Between them they made 50% of their attempted tackles and won 91% of their aerial duels, also completing three interceptions, six clearances and six critical blocks to repel Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Not only this, but Morgan seemed to regain confidence in his leadership again. This was such a huge part of Leicester’s shock campaign last year, yet this season a lack of results has clearly impacted his ability to wear the armband with confidence – but this all changed once again last night.
He was always looking around his defence to keep them in line, maintaining concentration throughout to ensure Liverpool had no way back in to the match – even with a three-goal deficit.
Morgan’s performance is perhaps even more admirable following his complete capitulation in Seville during the week, where he was at fault for both of Sevilla’s goals on a dreadful evening. He was fortunate that his goalkeeper bailed him out after a rash, late challenge inside the area, but his poor positioning and lack of strength – bizarrely – against Joaquin Correa gifted the Spaniards a second.
Yet in football it’s well known that the key is how you can bounce back from a demoralising loss, or performance, and Morgan did this extremely well on what could have been a tough evening for his side.
Liverpool put four past Morgan and his defence in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season, yet the Jamaican put in a fine, commanding performance to ensure a repeat didn’t happen.
With Leicester playing with confidence last night and gaining a vital win, the Foxes could look back on this match at the end of the season as a day when they – and Wes Morgan – turned a corner.
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