Lacklustre Liverpool crash out of League Cup with 2-0 loss at Leicester City

Leicester City produced an improved second-half display to dump Liverpool out of the League Cup courtesy of a 2-0 third round victory at the King Power Stadium.

Substitute Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani did the damage as the Merseysiders were made to pay the price for failing to make the most of their first-half dominance.

Both sides rung the changes heading into the contest and it was the visitors who made all of the early running, with left back Andrew Robertson particularly dangerous on the left.

Jurgen Klopp withdrew the impressive Philippe Coutinho at the break and Liverpool were never the same, with Okazaki making an immediate impact after replacing the dazed Leonardo Ulloa.

Slimani then sealed the win with a sizzling 25-yard strike to give the Foxes a much-needed lift and leave Liverpool winless in four matches.

The teams will now do it all again when they lock horns in the Premier League on Saturday evening, with Klopp desperately needing a result.

Liverpool's problems exposed once more. It's still early days, but questions will be asked of Klopp. The Reds can carve out openings, but when they lack the finishing touch, they don't have the defence to keep opponents at bay. It was largely a cup clash involving squad players, but it's fair to say the likes of Oxlade Chamberlain - making his full debut - failed to seize the opportunity. Plenty of food for thought for the German who is starting to see some observers criticise his decision-making.

Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City). Changed the game. The forward gave a comfortable Reds defence something to worry about and followed up his deflected opener with the lay-off for Slimani's stunner.

LEICESTER: Hamer 7, Amartey 6, Dragović 7, Morgan 7, Chilwell 7, Albrighton 6, Iborra 6, Ndidi 6, Gray 7, Slimani 6, Ulloa 5. Subs: Okazaki 8, Choudhury n/a.

LIVERPOOL: Ward 7; Flanagan 6, Gomez 6, Klavan 6, Robertson 8; Henderson 6, Grujic 6, Wijnaldum 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Coutinho 8, Solanke 6. Subs: Woodburn 7, Ings 6.

6' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE. Robertson overlaps on the left and lays a low cross towards Oxlade Chamberlain, who sees his goalbound shot deflect behind of Chilwell. Leicester struggle to defend the ensuing set piece and Solanke drills across the face of goal from a narrow angle.

27' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE. How has that not gone in? Robertson arrives late on the left of the area and fizzes a low ball across the goalmouth that Coutinho can't get enough on to divert it into the net from close range.

55' - LEICESTER CHANCE. Gray breezes past Henderson, shifts it beyond Klavan and fizzes a low drive just wide of Ward's left-hand post from 25 yards.

66' GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Liverpool. The Foxes lead. Okazaki sees a shot from 10 yards deflect in via Robertson after Morgan had nodded back across goal. Liverpool pay the price for not making their early dominance count and for failing to deal with the second ball from a corner.

72' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE. Liverpool take a quick free kick. Woodburn races down the left, cuts in and curves a shot inches wide of the far post.

78' - GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Liverpool. Okazaki wriggles free on the right and plays it to Slimani, who drives inside and fires a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner.

80' - LEICESTER CHANCE. The Foxes' tails are up. Gray weaves in from the left and curls in a low shot Ward has to tip past the far post.

Okazaki has netted four goals in his last seve appearances for Leicester (all comps), more than his previous 33 combined (3)

Five of Shinji Okazaki's last nine goals for Leicester across all competitions have come against last season's top-six.