Roy Evans' rebuilt Liverpool side looked anything but title contenders as they crashed to defeat against Leicester at Anfield last night. Matt Elliott fired Martin O'Neill's men ahead inside two minutes and Liverpool fans were streaming towards the exit when Graham Fenton made it 2-0 seven minutes from time.
Paul Ince's first goal for the Merseysiders since his £4.2 million move from Inter Milan failed to inspire a revival and Evans will be a worried man.
The expectation on Merseyside has been growing all summer and the £12 million spent by Evans instilled a real belief that this time Liverpool could wrestle the championship away from Manchester United. But those dreams were deflated as Leicester maintained their 100 per cent start with a second victory.
This was supposed to be the new dawn with Ince as the inspirational captain, Karlheinz Riedle providing international quality skills up front and 17-year-old Michael Owen making his home debut.
But Leicester were anything but overawed. Last season they defied everyone by staying in the top flight and reaching Europe and they hammered out the message that they intend to build on that platform this season.
The stars were not the new men in red, but the strong, tough defenders from Filbert Street. Centre backs Matt Elliott and Spencer Prior, both sporting identical shaven heads, were outstanding at the heart of the Leicester defence.
They coped with Riedle's thoughtful runs, and contained Owen, while Steve McManaman offered little threat.
Leicester, who beat Aston Villa on Saturday, deserved their win. They were better organised, played more as a team, and kept rigidly to their game plan of deep defence and quick, incisive breaks.
Emile Heskey and Ian Marshall kept Liverpool's rearguard more than occupied and young Neil Lennon fought for every yard against Ince.
Liverpool abandoned their back five at the break, throwing Danny Murphy into midfield, and even brought on another striker in Jamie Carragher towards the end in a desperate attempt to break through.
Liverpool: James, Jones, Wright, Babb (Matteo 73), McManaman, Harkness, Riedle, Thomas (Carragher 77), Ince, Owen, Bjornebye (Murphy 46). Subs Not Used: Warner, Thompson. Goal: Ince 85.
Leicester: Keller, Walsh, Izzet (Savage 46), Lennon, Heskey, Kaamark, Campbell, Prior, Elliott, Marshall (Fenton 73), Guppy. Subs Not Used: Claridge, Parker, Andrews. Booked: Lennon, Heskey. Goals: Elliott 1, Fenton 83.
Referee: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
