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Brendan Rodgers: Leicester boss, pictured on his return to Anfield
Brendan Rodgers: Leicester boss, pictured on his return to Anfield

Brendan Rodgers: Premier League defeat at Liverpool difficult to take, says Leicester City boss

By Press Association
08:17 · MON October 07, 2019

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers felt Sadio Mane "made the most" of the challenge which led to Liverpool scoring an added-time penalty winner on his first return to Anfield.

The Reds looked like dropping their first points of the season when James Maddison equalised Mane's first-half strike with 10 minutes remaining.

However, deep into five minutes of added time, Marc Albrighton's loss of possession and subsequent challenge on Mane allowed James Milner to score from the spot to seal a 2-1 victory and extend Liverpool's winning run to 17 successive Premier League matches - one short of Manchester City's record.

"To concede a 95th-minute penalty was difficult to take," said Rodgers after a VAR check ruled there was no reason for Chris Kavanagh to change his decision.

"I think he has made the most of the contact. Strikers now, they are clever. He has had a touch and gone over.

"If the referee didn't give it I don't think anyone would have said it was a clear and obvious error.

"I thought it was a very soft penalty, not clear and obvious that is for sure, but when the referee gives it, it is hard for the VAR to go against it.

"I thought we deserved a point. You come to the European champions and you have to be resilient and deal with pressure and show your own qualities.

"I felt we did that. I thought we could go on and win the game.

"To come here and be that competitive, it shows we are very much on the right path."

Watch Premier League Highlights: Milner keeps Reds rolling

Milner scores last minute penalty! | Liverpool 2-1 Leicester | Premier League Highlights

Liverpool celebrate a goal at Anfield

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was less interested in Albrighton's challenge - an "obvious penalty" - and more concerned about the "dangerous as hell" one by substitute Hamza Choudhury which left Mohamed Salah hobbling out of Anfield after the match with an ankle injury.

"It's just a challenge which I really don't understand. How he can do it, because the ball is far away?" he said.

"The player is in full sprint to bring him down without the ball around, for me there is only one colour card.

"It is dangerous as hell. I don't want to cause the boy any problems but he has to calm down. This is not the first situation like this.

"Super player but these kind of challenges... no. I don't need to be a football manager to know this can cause serious injury. I only need two eyes!"

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