Arne Slot’s side had to come from behind to take the three points
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League leaders Liverpool hosted and beat Premier League side Leicester City at the start of Boxing Day, but it was not as consistent as for Arne Slot’s side, who moved seven points atop the standings with the win. .
Despite 17 shots between the teams at the start, it was the Foxes who took the early lead, a low cross from the left finding Jordan Ayew, who turned and finished, via a deflection from Virgil van DijkArray into the lower skylight . If the league leaders were worried about this, they didn’t show it, with a dominant display afterwards, but it took until injury time at the end of the first half to get the equalizer, then Cody Gakpo stepped up and scored one in the most sensible. corner. Training
Right after the restart Curtis Jones netted from close range to complete the turnaround, with Mohamed Salah wrapping up the points towards the end of the game to send the Reds well clear heading into the new year.
Follow all the reaction from Anfield below:
Liverpool are accustomed to singing about walking through the storm. They had to walk through the fog here, losing their way when Leicester City took the lead. But they ended up striding seven points clear at the Premier League summit, with the bonus that they retain a game in hand on second-place Chelsea.
Returns had to be Jurgen Klopp’s strong point. If Arne Slot supervised more than he would have liked, the newest was required and executed. The 22nd victory in 26 games under the leadership of the Dutchman is praised. In a department where so many others are consistently inconsistent, Liverpool stand out as the exception to the rule.
It helps if they have a significant number of winners. If Mohamed Salah tops the list, he also completed the victory by leaning on a shot to pass the goal that escaped him when he made a clever save and then hit the crossbar. However, the fit came through Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones, two who started the season on the bench and would possibly not be part of Slot’s first-choice team. Gakpo insisted on his case, joining Salah and Luis Diaz on a double-digit break for the season with a superlative draw and also completing his night with an assist.
This had a specific cruelty for the beaten manager. Gakpo has taken a step forward during his six months under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven. He rewarded it by nullifying Leicester’s credit with a goal that condemned a goal that ended his career to a night in the relegation zone. Not that Gakpo’s goal, a very good shot from 25 yards, turns out to have come from Van Nistelrooy’s repertoire: he has scored few goals from outside the area. But it brought a change that Liverpool had threatened.
Richard cheerfully:
Liverpool 3-1 Leicester: Salah wrapped up the win but Gakpo produced a masterclass this time
Mo Salah speaking to Amazon Prime:
“To be fair, it’s a smart result. The way they prepared before the game was tricky for us, especially in the first half, but it was a wonderful result.
“Cody gave us confidence at the time to check it out and win the game, with 1-0 you just tied it. One minute before half-time and a very good goal.
“As much as the team winning, that’s the most important thing. Hopefully we’ll win the Premier League – it’s great (being clear) but we’ll just focus on each game. It feels different but the most important thing is to stay humble. Hopefully we don’t get injuries, we really want to win the league.”
Liverpool are seven ahead of Chelsea, although Arsenal could reduce that number by one point if they beat Ipswich at home.
Taking into account that the Reds are the best in the Champions League, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and have Accrington in the FA Cup, everything is going quite well for Arne Slot’s team at the moment.
Jota nods a free-kick across the face of goal and Van Dijk is lurking, but can’t rise above three defenders to head in a fourth goal.
Gakpo wins a last corner to close the game, Szoboszlai takes. . . he continued with Tsimikas and Salah ended up crossing, but claimed.
That’s it, the whistle blew and Liverpool won again and took a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Salah almost releases Jota in the area, but Vestergaard sees him in a corner, which Leicester defends. Another late replacement for Van Nistelrooy, Okoli replaces Coady at full-back.
There are a few minutes left.
Moving on to stoppage time: Liverpool looked for more than they were given in the first half, but arguably didn’t bother too much after an extra nine minutes were added this time.
Maybe a little strange on the part of the referees, but it was basically themselves who took this moment at this moment with the VAR checks.
A definitive replacement for Liverpool, as Elliott replaces Mac Allister.
Tsimikas and Endo upgrade Robertson and Gravenberch, while Slot rests some key starters late in the game. DeCordova-Reid upgrades Mavididi for Leicester.
House enthusiasts have a big voice now, things are almost sealed, expressing their gratitude for being the best at the table by the end of 2024.
Here’s the finisher! It’s undeniable and we’ve noticed it many times: Salah played on the right wing, he came on the field, this time he didn’t even beat his player, but he moved him around and coolly curled him towards the far post.
So smoother and unerring – and an assist to go with the earlier goal for Gakpo, who has been excellent tonight.
The best of the new year for Liverpool.
Szoboszlai barges over Ayew who is on the run…yellow card and a suspension. He didn’t start tonight to try and prevent that very situation – he’ll miss the trip to West Ham as a result.
Twice now in quick succession Leicester players go flying to ground wanting fouls; both occasions the ref waves them away and says play on.
Slot urges his players to continue and finish this match. Salah bursts into the area from the right channel and scores the goal: easy save.
As we have already said, there are the substitutes: Núñez did not appear in terms of the minutes and none of his outstanding performances, says Richard Jolly:
“That perhaps summed up Darwin Núñez’s night: an offside cost Cody Gakpo a second goal. Núñez spent much of his time interfering in the game, to no benefit to Liverpool.
They had to fight their way through the fog here, getting lost when Leicester City took the lead. But they ended up having seven clear points at the top of the Premier League, with the added advantage that they held a game in hand against the second division. Chelsea were placed.
Comebacks were supposed to be Jurgen Klopp’s forte. If Arne Slot has overseen more than he would ideally like, the latest was both required and executed. The reward was a 22nd win in 26 games under the Dutchman. In a division where so many others are consistently inconsistent, Liverpool stand out as the exception to the rule.
It helps that they have a sizeable cast of match-winners. If Mohamed Salah tops the bill, he also completed victory, bending in a shot to get the goal that eluded him when he drew a fine save and then hit the bar. Yet the game was decided by Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones, two who began the season on the bench and who might not figure in Slot’s first-choice team. Gakpo pressed his case to do so, joining Salah and the rested Luis Diaz in double figures for the season with a superlative equaliser and ending his night with an assist as well.
It had a particular cruelty for the beaten manager. Gakpo improved in his six months under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven. He repaid him by cancelling out Leicester’s advantage with a strike that condemned an influence on his career to a night in the relegation zone. Not that Gakpo’s goal, a stunning strike from 25 yards, seemed to come from Van Nistelrooy’s repertoire: he scored famously few from outside the penalty area. But it brought a turnaround that Liverpool had always threatened.
Joyful Richard:
Mo Salah speaking to Amazon Prime:
“To be fair, it’s a smart result. Considering the way they prepared before the game, it was tricky for us, especially in the first half, but it was a wonderful result.
“Cody gave us confidence in the moment part to check out and win the game, at 1-0 you just on getting the equalizer. A minute before part time and a wonderful goal.
“As much as the team wins, that’s the most important thing. I hope we win the Premier League. It’s wonderful (to be clear), but we will just focus on each and every game. It’s different, but the most vital thing It’s about staying humble. I hope we don’t get injured, we need to win the championship.
Liverpool are seven ahead of Chelsea, although Arsenal can cut that figure by one point by beating Ipswich at home.
Given the Reds are top of the Champions League, into the Carabao Cup semis and have Accrington in the FA Cup, it’s all looking pretty good for Arne Slot’s team right now.
Jota nods in a loose shot in front of goal and Van Dijk hides but beats three defenders to head in a fourth goal.
Gakpo wins a last corner to close the game, Szoboszlai takes. . . he continued with Tsimikas and Salah ended up crossing, but claimed.
That’s it, the whistle goes and Liverpool have come from behind to win and go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League!
Salah almost frees Jota into the box but Vestergaard gets over to ssee it behind for a corner, which Leicester defend. Another late change from Van Nistelrooy, Okoli on for Coady at the back.
There are a few minutes left.
Into stoppage time we go – Liverpool wanted more than they got first half but they possibly won’t be too bothered either way after nine extra minutes are added this time around.
Maybe a bit strange on the part of the referees, but it was basically themselves who took this moment at this moment with the VAR controls.
A definitive replacement for Liverpool when Elliott replaces Mac Allister.
Tsimikas and Endo on for Robertson and Gravenberch as Slot rests a few key starters at the end of the game. DeCordova-Reid is on for Mavididi for Leicester.
House enthusiasts have a big voice now, things are almost sealed, expressing their appreciation for being the best at the table by the end of 2024.
Here’s the finisher! It is so undeniable and we have noticed it on many occasions: Salah played on the right wing, he moves up, this time he doesn’t even beat his player, but he moves him and coolly curls him in from the far post.
Much more fluid and foolproof, and I’ll give you a hand to overcome Gakpo’s past, which is perfect tonight.
Top of the table for the new year for Liverpool.
Szoboszlai breaks into Ayew, who runs away. . . yellow card and suspension. He did not start tonight to check how to avoid this scenario, so he will miss the game against West Ham.
Twice in a row, Leicester players fell to the ground before committing fouls; Each time, the referee waves them away and tells them to continue.
Slot urges its players to continue and finish this game. Salah bursts into the area from the right channel and achieves the goal: an easy save.
There are the substitutes, as has been indicated: the non-appearance of Núñez in the minutes and none of his most notable performances, says Richard Jolly:
“That would have possibly summed up Darwin Núñez’s night: for being offside, he charged Cody Gakpo with a second goal. Nunez spent much of his time interfering with the game, not for Liverpool’s benefit.
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