Leicester vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the reaction from the King Power Stadium
Follow live reaction after Liverpool dropped three points in the Premier League title race as a depleted Leicester side held on to secure a 1-0 victory at the King Power Stadium.
Mohamed Salah saw a first-half penalty saved by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, with the Premier League’s top scorer hitting the top of the bar with the rebound. Schmeichel denied Salah for a second time with a stunning stop from the angle, as Liverpool went into the break frustrated.
Sadio Mane missed a further chance after half time when he was played through on goal by Diogo Jota, before Leicester punished Liverpool as substitute Ademola Lookman fired the Foxes in front on 59 minutes.
Liverpool couldn’t find a late winner - the first time they had failed to score this season - as leaders Manchester City held on to their six-point lead ahead of their trip to Brentford tomorrow night. Follow reaction from Leicester vs Liverpool live below:
Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
4 mins: Tsimikas threatens with a teasing ball into the box towards Salah. Ndidi heads clear, but only to Jota, whose shot is blocked from eight yards! Leicester then threaten to break and Matip receives an early booking for brining down Iheanacho.
Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
3 mins: Leicester look for Iheanacho over the top. Alexander-Arnold guides it back towards Alisson and then the flag goes up for offside.
Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
2 mins: Liverpool were rather penned into the Leicester corner and the Foxes clear after Alexander-Arnold skies his cross into the box.
KICK-OFF! Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
We’re underway! Van Dijk gets his first touch to cut out a long ball towards Vardy.
Leicester vs Liverpool
Here come the teams! Can Liverpool close the gap on Manchester City? Or will Leicester close out 2021 with a victory to turn their season around?
Follow for live updates from the King Power Stadium.
Leicester vs Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to Prime Video:
On the bonus of having extra days rest after the Leeds match was postponed: “Massive one, because of course we could train. Five days between the games which for us is really strange. Hopefully we used the time and are well prepared for this game. Thiago was in training for one day and the next he felt something, so we had to leave him at home.”
On Leicester’s form: “If you look at Leicester’s second half against Manchester City, I would have said they are in a really good moment. It was surprising after being 4-0 down that they made such a comeback. You can see tonight it is a strong side. Looks like a diamond again, two strikers, Maddison in really good shape. They caused us some problems in our last game with that formation. Hopefully we have learned from it.”
On the title race and being perfect: “We knew that before, there was no other season when this wasn’t the case, but especially with City around. We are really not in this fight. We are trying to collect our points and there will be a decisive moment in this season. Hopefully then we are in the right place to be decisive then.”
Leicester vs Liverpool
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to Amazon Video: “Off the back of a tough game it’s a new challenge. We look to write our own story.
“From a defensive perspective, we have to be really strong. We know we have to suffer against Liverpool. They are a top team and they are full quality. But we showed last week that in transition and in our attacking side of the game we can cause teams problems. You have to not concede silly goals and if you can do that, stay strong, we always know we can score goals.”
On James Maddison: “His consistency is right up there. He’s been a top talent but to be a top player you have to find consistency. He’s been really effective the past few months, scoring goals, but defensively he’s been pressing the ball and that really elevates his attacking game to another level.”
No Tielemans? “It’s just the games... In midfield you need that energy, we only played on Sunday.”
Leicester vs Liverpool
Aside from their recent struggles, is it fair to say that Leicester have the Premier League’s most in-form player right now in James Maddison?
After a slow start to the season, the 25-year-old has come alive in recent weeks and almost inspired a comeback against Manchester City with a sublime individual performance.
Maddison has scored in each of his last three appearances and has four goals in his last five Premier League starts, including three assists.
This isn’t Fantasy Football, however, and Leicester need to turn Maddison’s form into results after winning only one of their last six matches in all competitions.
Leicester vs Liverpool
Leicester’s set-piece struggles continued in the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City on Boxing Day as Brendan Rodgers’ side conceded another two goals, as well as a penalty, from dead-ball situations.
According to Opta, no Premier League side has conceded more goals from set-pieces than the Foxes this season having already let in 12, excluding penalties.
Meanwhile, no Premier League team has scored more set-piece goals than tonight’s opponents Liverpool (10).
Leicester vs Liverpool: Team news
Leicester, meanwhile, have faced a much sharper turnaround - their schedule of facing both Manchester City and Liverpool within 48 hours was branded as “ridiculous” by Brendan Rodgers. He makes six changes, with Timothy Castagne and Wilfred Ndidi coming into the back four. Jamie Vardy returns, and Hamza Choudhury and Boubakary Soumaré are the other replacements. Jannick Vestergaard, Marc Albrighton, Youri Tielemans, Ademola Lookman and Ayoze Pérez drop out.
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