Arne Slot’s team had to come from behind to take the 3 points
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League leaders Liverpool hosted and beat Leicester City in the Premier League in the final Boxing Day kick-off, but it wasn’t as consistent as that for Arne Slot’s side, who moved seven clear points at the top of the table. with the victory.
Despite 17 passes between the teams at the start, it was the Foxes who took the lead early on, a low cross from the left received by Jordan Ayew that he accelerated and finished off, via a deflection from Virgil van Dijk, into the back corner. If the league leaders were worried about this, they didn’t show it, with a dominant display afterwards, but it wasn’t until the moment right at the end of the first half that the equaliser came when Cody Gakpo stepped up. He went in and curled one up in the most sensitive corner.
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 reactions from Anfield below:
They had to fight their way through the fog here, getting lost as Leicester City took the lead. But they ended up having seven clear points at the top of the Premier League, with the added advantage of having one less game against the second division. placed Chelsea.
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 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 to the defeated trainer. Gakpo took a step forward during his six months under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven. He rewarded it by canceling out Leicester’s credit with a goal that condemned an influence on his career to a night in the relegation zone. that Gakpo’s goal, a very good shot from 25 meters, turns out to be from Van Nistelrooy’s repertoire: he scored few goals from outside the penalty area. But it brought a change of direction that Liverpool had threatened.
Joyful Richard:
Liverpool 3-1 Leicester: Salah got the win, but this time Gakpo gave a masterclass
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 in the second moment to try to win the game, at 1-0 you just got the equalizer. A minute before half-time and a wonderful 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 seven ahead of Chelsea, though Arsenal can reduce that by one tomorrow if they beat Ipswich at home.
Given 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, things are going quite well for Arne Slot’s team at the moment.
Jota nods with 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.
Just 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 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 final sub for Liverpool as Elliott comes on for 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.
The home fans are in fine voice now the points are all-but-sealed, sounding out their appreciation for topping the table at the end of 2024.
Here’s the finisher! It’s so undeniable and we’ve 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 inside from 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 its players to continue and finish this match. Salah bursts into the box on the right channel and hits the goal: a simple save.
There are the substitutes, as has been indicated: the non-presentation of Núñez in the minutes and none of his most outstanding performances, Richard Jolly believes:
“That perhaps summed up Darwin Núñez’s night: an offside cost Cody Gakpo a second goal. Nunez spent much of his time interfering in play, without benefiting Liverpool.
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 suit. If Arne Slot supervised more than he would have liked, the newest one was called upon and executed. The 22nd win in 26 matches under the Dutchman’s leadership is praised. In a department where so many others are consistently inconsistent, Liverpool stands out as the exception to the rule.
It helps that they have a significant number of winners. If Mohamed Salah tops the list, he also completed the victory by relying on a shot to pass the goal that escaped him when he made a smart save and then hit the crossbar. However, the fit came through Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones, two who began the season on the bench and likely would not be part of Slot’s first-choice team. Gakpo pressed his case, joining Salah and Luis Diaz in a double-digit break for the season with a superlative draw and also completing his night with an assist.
This had a specific cruelty to the defeated trainer. Gakpo took a step forward during his six months under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven. He rewarded him by canceling out Leicester’s credit with a goal that condemned an influence on his career to a night in the relegation zone. that Gakpo’s goal, a very good shot from 25 meters, turns out to be from Van Nistelrooy’s repertoire: he scored few goals from outside the penalty area. But it brought a change of direction that Liverpool had threatened.
Joyful Richard:
Mo Salah speaking to Amazon Prime:
“It’s a good result to be fair. The way they prepared themselves before the game, it was quite hard for us first half especially but it was a great result.
“Cody gave us confidence second half to try and win the game, at 1-0 you just focus on equalising. A minute before the half time and a great 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.
Given that the Reds are top of the Champions League, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and have Accrington in the FA Cup, things are going pretty well for Arne Slot’s side 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 one last corner to wrap up the match, Szoboszlai to take…he links with Tsimikas and Salah eventually crosses, but it’s 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.
Just 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 little bit on the part of the referees, but in reality it was basically them who took this moment at this moment with the VAR controls.
A final sub for Liverpool as Elliott comes on for Mac Allister.
Tsimikas and Endo update Robertson and Gravenberch, while Slot rests some key starters behind in the game. “DeCordova-Reid updates 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.
There’s the finisher! So simple and we’ve seen it so many times: Salah played in down the right wing, drifts infield, doesn’t even beat his man this time but shifts it slightly and curls it coolly inside the far post.
Much smoother and foolproof, and I’ll give you a hand approving Gakpo’s previous pass, which was perfect 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 in a row, Leicester players fall to the ground before committing fouls; At that point, the referee dismisses them and tells them to continue.
Slot urging his players forward to go on and finish this game off. Salah bursts into the box down the right channel and toe-pokes at goal – easy save.
There are the subs as noted – another no-show for Nunez in terms of the scoresheet and not one of his more impactful showings, feels 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.
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