Liverpool exacted revenge on Leicester City by edging out a five-goal thriller.

Jurgen Klopp’s side returned to the King Power Stadium after their Carabao Cup exit and opened the scoring through a far-post header from Mohamed Salah.

The Reds’ advantage was doubled just eight minutes later as Philippe Coutinho opened his account for the season courtesy of a brilliantly-taken free kick.

Shinjk Okazaki pulled Leicester back into the game on the stroke of half time with a controversial prodded close-range finish past Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool restored their two-goal cushion when Jordan Henderson scored from a counter attack, only for the hosts to immediately respond through Jamie Vardy.

Vardy also had the opportunity to pull the Foxes level after he was hauled down by Mignolet but the Belgian goalkeeper saved the ensuing penalty kick.

Here were the key talking points from the King Power:

Coutinho returns with a vengeance

 

It was only a matter of time before the true Philippe Coutinho re-emerged.

Beneath the headlines and perceived hand-wringing, the Brazilian playmaker’s reintegration into Liverpool’s starting line-up has been relatively seamless.

But it had lacked the X-factor that many have come to expect from Coutinho. That all changed in the space of less than 25 minutes at the King Power Stadium.

A stunning 25-yard free kick and assist for Mo Salah invariably steals the headlines but it tells only half the story of his influence throughout this game.

Any accusations that Coutinho may down tools over that failed move to Barcelona can be firmly shelved – he is officially back with a vengeance.

Reds’ Jekyll and Hyde strikes again

 

Liverpool’s defence seems to have lacked any significant presence all season to the point that some argue Mamadou Sakho should never have been sold.

Again that was shown as Jurgen Klopp’s side were put to the test in a high-scoring game which saw both defences struggling to cope with the intensity.

This may not have been on par with the horror show at the King Power in midweek but it was still a performance rife with defensive frailties.

Irrespective of whether Virgil van Dijk remains on on his agenda, Klopp still needs to consider drafting reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Sturridge ready to stake a claim again

 

His qualities have never really been under dispute but a torrid time with injuries has removed the gloss from Daniel Sturridge’s Liverpool career.

Whenever fully fit, however, he has proven to be the club’s best striker since Luis Suarez’s departure. A second-half cameo was another shining example of that.

Gone are the days where Sturridge was an automatic starter but the case for his return was made increasingly compelling by his part in Liverpool’s third goal.

With strength in depth key to successfully juggling European and domestic commitments, the 28-year-old deserves to work his way back into a regular role.

Robertson omission backfires

 

A second trip to the King Power in the space of four days should have rendered this season’s battle for Liverpool’s first choice left-back a foregone conclusion.

Andy Robertson did plenty in the Carabao Cup exit to the Foxes to convince Klopp that he deserved to retain a starring role ahead of Alberto Moreno.

The Liverpool manager clearly thought otherwise. His side’s defensive frailities were exposed once again and Moreno seems to add continual fuel to the fire.

Robertson could be forgiven for wondering what he has to do before displacing the inconsistent one-time Spain international on a permanent basis.