Liverpool vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Wout Faes nets two horror own goals
Liverpool 2-1 Leciester: The Reds moved within two points of the top four after Faes endured a miserable night with two own goals
Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 but only after two calamitous own goals from visiting defender Wout Faes in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Friday.
The Belgian centre back miscued a clearance in the 38th minute to hand Liverpool the equaliser, after Leicester took a surprise fourth minute lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and then put the ball into his net again on the stroke of halftime.
Liverpool, who stay sixth but move within a point of fifth-placed Manchester United, albeit having played a game more, will consider themselves lucky after a stuttering performance with both clubs guilty of missing good chances.
Leicester remain 13th, four points above the relegation zone, after they lost a 10th league game of the season.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Leicester (Dewsbury-Hall, 4’)⚽️
4 mins: Leicester lead! A long ball from Luke Thomas comes to Harvey Barnes who wins it into the air before sliding a pass up to Patson Daka.
Daka lays it off to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who storms past Jordan Henderson, cuts inside of Virigl van Dijk and guides a left-footed effort wide of Alisson to send the Foxes in front at Anfield.
Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
3 mins: Lovely move from Liverpool who win the ball and give it to Trent Alexander-Arnold. He makes a run down the inside right channel combining with both Harvey Elliott and Mo Salah on his way to the edge of the box.
It’s a sharp move from Liverpool but ends when Alexander-Arnold’s shot is blocked by Wout Faes.
Kick off: Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Before kick off there is a round of applause for former Liverpool forward David Johnson and Brazilian legend Pele who both recently passed away.
Patson Daka then gets the ball rolling for the first half.
Liverpool vs Leicester
Here come the teams.
Jordan Henderson leads Liverpool out onto the pitch at Anfield. Luis Diaz is waiting on in the stands as is Reds newcomer Cody Gakpo.
Will Liverpool close the gap on the top four or will Leicester shock the Reds tonight?
Liverpool vs Leicester
It’s almost time for kick off at Anfield. Which way is this one going to go?
Liverpool vs Leicester
The Foxes are aiming to win four straight away league games without conceding for the first time in their history. Can they keep a clean sheet at Anfield tonight?
Klopp praises Salah and Robertson
Jurgen Klopp took the opportunity in tonight’s matchday programme to single out Mo Salah and Andy Robertson for their contributions to Liverpool.
The Reds manager wrote: “A couple of our players reached incredible individual landmarks and I am a great believer that these moments should be acknowledged and celebrated.
“For Mo Salah to be talked about in the same sentence of Sir Kenny Dalglish, the legend of all Liverpool legends, speaks for itself. Best of all, I know Sir Kenny was at the stadium with his grandson to see Mo equal his goals tally and he could not have been more pleased for him. Again, that tells us everything we need to know about Sir Kenny.
“Andy Robertson also deserved the tributes that came his way for becoming the defender with the most assists in Premier League history. Again, this is a special achievement and one that he and we are very proud of. I used the word ‘individual’ and this is true in one sense because the records that Mo and Robbo have are their own, but the best thing about them is that they benefit the team and the club.
“This is where it becomes collective. The better we can do as individuals, in whatever role we have, the better we will do as a team. This applies tonight – especially tonight – because I know full well that Leicester will be wanting to strike back after a disappointing result on Boxing Day.”
Cody Gakpo fills an immediate need for Liverpool but could be Jurgen Klopp’s next long-term central project
Cody Gakpo is in, the latest Liverpool addition and the third part of a renewal of the front line which, for most of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, had been dominated by the triumvirate of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Only the latter now remains an immovable part of the Anfield attack, Mane departed and Firmino both injured and approaching the end of his contract. As such, the regeneration has come on apace across 2022, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez added to the mix before Gakpo now joins too.
In the short term, he’s an obvious stop-gap addition: Diaz is sidelined, Diogo Jota too, while Nunez is needed centrally due to Firmino’s own injury absence. That leaves the left wing spot up for grabs, at least on a temporary basis.
Gakpo fills Liverpool need now but could be Klopp’s long-term central project
The new signing from PSV starred for Netherlands at the World Cup and joins at a time when Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are sidelined by injury
Liverpool’s struggles
Liverpool have won three consecutive league games for the first time since winning their final three fixtures of last season. The Reds won only four of their opening 12 league matches this campaign.
On top of that they have kept just four clean sheets in their 19 Premier League games since the start of May, with only Southampton, Leeds and Aston Villa keeping fewer amongst ever present top-flight sides.
Can Leicester rediscover their defensive form?
Brendan Rodgers’ side conceded as many goals in their 3-0 defeat against Newcastle on Boxing Day as they had in their previous 10 matches in all competitions combined.
The last time they both lost and failed to score in consecutive league games was October 2020.
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