26 December 2024
Liverpool 3 Leicester 1
In-form Liverpool welcomed Leicester City to Anfield looking to extend their lead at the top of the table. Nobody gave much of a chance to the visitors who had lost their last two games under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. Arne Slot’s side had been scoring goals for fun of late and were looking to put The Foxes to the sword.
The Reds’ manager opted to rotate his squad for the game, with both Diaz and Szoboszlai rested. The hosts started on the front foot and Salah had the first chance of the game. His volley was blocked by stand-in keeper Stolarczyk. Even at this early stage it seemed like The Foxes’ keeper was going to have a busy evening if his side were going to stand any chance of a positive result.
Leicester came forward for the first time with Mavididi down the left flank. His cross found Ayew in the box with his back to goal, he turned and shot, beating Alisson at his near post. His effort took a deflection off the boot of Van Dijk which was enough to ensure that Liverpool’s keeper was unable to keep it out. Anfield fell silent.
The hosts continued to press and a shot from Salah took a big deflection before narrowly looping over the crossbar. From the resulting corner Alexander-Arnold’s cross was headed goalwards by Robertson. He watched his effort strike the far post before hitting the keeper and going wide. So close to an equaliser for Slot’s side.
The Foxes were getting bodies behind the ball and not offering the hosts the chance to get shots off at goal. That was until Salah manufactured a shooting chance but his curling effort crashed against the crossbar and came back out. It was seeming like one of those days for The Reds. Van Nistelrooy’s side were hanging on but it just seemed a matter of time before a goal came.
Deep into added time Gakpo picked the ball up out wide and skipped past Justin. He cut inside onto his right foot and bent a shot into the far corner as Anfield erupted. The visitors had tried their hardest to keep Slot’s side out but finally their defences were breached. Both sides went into the interval all square with the hosts knowing anything but victory would be seen as points dropped.
Into the second-half and Liverpool continued to pile the pressure on Leicester. Mac Allister picked the ball up wide in the penalty area before spotting the run of Jones. He played it into the midfielder who slotted home to give The Reds the lead for the first time in the game. It was difficult to see a way back into this match for the visitors from this point.
With a slender lead, the hosts knew they needed the cushion of another goal to ensure they could not be hit with a sucker punch. Mavididi came forward once again and played an inch-perfect cross into Daka in the middle. He completely missed his shot and the groans could be heard from the away end as the visitors wasted a big chance to draw level.
Liverpool’s passing game was starting to open up The Foxes. As a ball was played into Nunez at the near post, his first-time shot was well saved by Stolarczyk. It was a great move by The Reds that was just missing the finish from the Uruguayan. He held his head in his hands, desperate for a goal to answer his critics.
As a cross was played into the box, Salah squared it across goal. Gakpo arrived to drill the ball into the back of the net but the celebrations were short-lived as it was ruled out for offside. Then came the usual five minute wait for the VAR studio to get their house in order. They finally sided with the onfield decision, which kept the visitors in this game.
With time running out, a diagonal pass found Salah in space out on the right wing. He drove into the box but had a sea of blue shirts in front of him. The Egyptian King then used them to curl the ball into the far corner with Stolarczyk unsighted. Anfield rejoiced as they knew that was the three points in the bag for The Reds. It was a brilliant finish from the Liverpool talisman.
Despite taking an early lead, Liverpool never looked in trouble in this game. The constant barrage of attacks always seemed likely to get them back into the game as The Foxes struggled to contain them. The victory took Arne Slot’s side seven points clear at the top of the table. Leicester meanwhile were now in the bottom three after Wolves’ victory earlier in the day.
The Reds look like they will take some stopping this season. All the chasing pack can hope is that they hit a run of bad form at some point. Slot’s side seem to have goals all over the pitch, making it nearly impossible for opponents to keep them out. Liverpool are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table and still have a game in hand also.
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