Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has admitted that Jurgen Klopp's decision to take off Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho at half time helped them to secure their 2-0 win in the EFL Cup last night.
The Reds were in control for the first half of the encounter at the King Power but were unable to turn their chances into goals, then allowing a reinvigorated Foxes side to capitalise in the second half through substitute Shinji Okazaki and record signing Islam Slimani.
Klopp has since come in for some criticism for withdrawing Coutinho during the break, and Shakespeare conceded that Brazilian's exit gave them the upper hand.
"You talk about football being a game of two halves and it definitely was," he told Sky Sports News. "I thought the first goal was always going to be crucial. Of course first half we thought it was going to be Liverpool because we did lead a charmed life. But it's about staying in the game in football land to get the first goal was massively important.
"We knew at half time we had to regroup. It was to our advantage in terms of Philippe Coutinho going off at half time. We spoke to the boys about being more aggressive, getting in Liverpool's faces a bit more and playing with a bit more intent.
"Bringing Shinji on makes that bit of difference, he plays with that intent, desire and enthusiasm."
The result means that Klopp's charges have now gone four games without a win, while the Foxes have progressed to the fourth round of the competition for the first time in two years.
Neil Wilkes
