Liverpool edged further ahead in the Premier League title race with a draw against Leicester City.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring against the former champions barely three minutes into the game with a low finish from Andy Robertson’s cross.

But Harry Maguire levelled for the visitors on the stroke of half time when Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to clear their lines from a James Maddison free kick.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds can afford to take a free hit

 

Leading from the front has its benefits in Liverpool’s Premier League title quest.

Manchester City’s rare glimpse of mortality on Tuesday night afforded Jurgen Klopp’s side a chance to take a slip-up against the Foxes as a relative free hit.

They still increased the points gap to five in a set of midweek fixtures where little has gone to plan for themselves, Pep Guardiola’s side and others in the league.

Leicester City’s dogged performance ensured that Claude Puel maintained a credible record against the Reds, with only two defeats in nine meetings.

A fraught home crowd may not have agreed but Jurgen Klopp will take positives from dropping points now rather than over the course of the next 14 games.

..but Anfield must still bring the noise

 

An imperfect night was not exclusive to an inability to take maximum points. Klopp’s plea for the Anfield crowd to galvanise his players also fell on deaf ears.

Some things remained constant; every attack mounted drew roars of anticipation while misplaced passes and contentious decisions prompted exasperated howls.

But the sense of nervousness which engulfed the stadium whenever Leicester regained possession and made genuine inroads on Alisson’s goal was palpable.

It was understandable; inevitable, even. A 29-year wait for the title can have that impact on even the most seasoned supporter as the stakes continue to rise.

Strong stomachs are a prerequisite at the business end of the season. If Anfield is to remain an unshakable fortress; the fans will need to help set the standard.

Alisson becomes the great redeemer

 

Night continues to follow day in Alisson Becker’s debut season on Merseyside.

He remains as calamitious as he is dependable, with memories of September’s blundering trip to the King Power Stadium flooding back early in the first half.

James Maddison almost made Liverpool’s number-one pay for his supreme self-confidence early in the first half with two attempts to pull the Foxes level.

What he lacks in ball-playing, however, Alisson more than makes up with shot-stopping ability as the hosts almost found themselves behind after the break.

The Brazil international’s two-footed stop on the goal line as Roberto Firmino appeared set to turn the ball into his own net demonstrated his sharp reflexes.

Small detail in the grander scheme of things admittedly but that moment of redemption could be the difference between success and shortfall this season.

Henderson vindicates square peg experiment

 

Shoehorning another midfielder at right-back could only go one of two ways after the erroneous experiment with James Milner against Crystal Palace.

Unlike the suspended veteran, Jordan Henderson’s positional shift actually vindicated Klopp’s efforts to place square pegs in Liverpool’s round hole.

A return to the role he last occupied in a breathless 3-2 win at Blackburn seven years ago actually saw Henderson providing a greater creative input than usual.

The Liverpool captain regularly forged openings, even if his defensive duties were hampered by Leicester’s tactical reshuffle midway through the first half.

Demarai Gray made life uncomfortable but not unbearable. It was a stark contrast to Palace’s Wilfried Zaha tormenting Milner just 11 days prior.