Liverpool 3-1 Leicester City – Player of the Match

Anfield Watch followers have voted Wataru Endo as Liverpool's Player of the Match for the 3-1 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup third round.

The Reds went behind once again on Wednesday night, after Kasey McAteer opened the scoring early on for the Championship leaders. However, the hosts pulled things back in the second half with goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota.

The result is Liverpool's seventh straight win in 2023/24 and, curiously, their fourth 3-1 win in a row – having recorded the same scoreline against Wolves, LASK and West Ham.

Speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp called it a 'top night, with 'top goals'.

He said, via Liverpoolfc.com: "Minute by minute, we grew into that game and it was a top performance, to be honest.

"With all the quality of Leicester, we have to admit that as well, super-coached team obviously, super set-up, you can pretty much see, feel and smell the confidence they have because of their situation, so that made life difficult. But we kept going and improved during the game as a team clearly but individually as well, a lot of performances stepped up and here we are, and I like that a lot.

"[We scored] top goals, absolutely top goals. But I think the goals we didn't score were pretty beautiful as well, just didn't go in – like the last of Harvey, I have no clue who blocked that.

"How I said, now looking back, a top night for us because you look at Wataru, how he grew into the game and how dominant he was in the second half, how he really won the balls, passed the ball. I'm not sure it was the last pass before Dom scores but for sure probably he passed the ball through the lines again, what he did quite frequently. That was really, really good, he played a super game.

"Jarell Quansah, not only playing outstandingly well, setting a goal up. So exciting, you cannot watch him without smiling, to be honest. It's really, really nice to see."

READ MORE: Liverpool 3-1 Leicester City – Player Ratings

Following the victory, Liverpool have been drawn to face Bournemouth in the fourth round, with the fixture taking place at the Vitality Stadium on 31 October.

Who was Player of the Match?

While Szoboszlai's rocket stole the headlines, it was the busy and assured midfield performance of Wataru Endo that won over Anfield Watch followers in the Player of the Match poll, with the Japan captain securing close to 48% from nearly 7,000 votes in total.

Szoboszlai who was only on the field for the last half hour came in second with 31.5%, with Dutch duo Cody Gakpo (11.9%) and Ryan Gravenberch (9%) coming third and fourth respectively.

30-year-old Endo, who was making only his third Liverpool start, enjoyed a 90% pass completion rate, registered four interceptions and won three out of four aerial duels, as well as getting his first assist for the club as he laid on Szoboszlai's screamer.

Speaking after the game, Endo revealed the game against Leicester was actually only the second most important thing happening that day.

“It was a big day today as my four kids started at their new school,” he told The Athletic.

“I haven’t heard yet how they found it, but I’m looking forward to hearing all about it. I’m so happy that my family are here finally. We’ve moved into a new house and everything is good. I can’t wait to see them. Family is everything to me.”

Meanwhile, Szoboszlai topped the vote for the club's official Player of the Match award, ahead of Gakpo and Darwin Nuñez.