Liverpool vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Salah scores in comeback win for Reds
Arne Slot’s side had to come from behind to take the three points
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Your support makes all the difference.League leaders Liverpool hosted and beat Leicester City in the Premier League in the late Boxing Day kick-off - but it was not as routine as that for Arne Slot’s team, who went seven points clear at the top of the table with the victory.
Despite 17 places between the teams at kick-off, it was the Foxes who took the lead early on, a low cross from the left met by Jordan Ayew who spun and finished, via a deflection off Virgil van Dijk, into the bottom corner. If the league leaders were concerned at that they didn’t show it, with a dominant display thereafter, but it took until stoppage time at the end of the first half to find a leveller as Cody Gakpo cut in and bent one into the top 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 reaction from Anfield below:
74’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
No surprises on the upcoming subs for Liverpool, with Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai being readied. They’ll be on for Nunez and Jones.
Still 15 minutes and stoppage time to go and still just a one-goal lead for the Reds, who will go seven points clear if they do take the victory tonight, which certainly isn’t a done deal just yet.
70’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
...two checks required, and the second is a confirmation - Nunez was just off as Salah laid it across. Stil 2-1 and Leicester earn a reprieve. More than three minutes to do that check.
70’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Liverpool think they have a third - the offside flag is up. Nunez should have found the net, Gakpo did, after Salah’s cross was initially scuffed by the Uruguayan and landed at the Dutchman’s feet.
His thunderous finish beat defenders and goalkeeper on the line alike, but the flag was straight up. Another lengthy VAR check...
66’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Stolarczyk called into action once more as a sweeping move sees Nunez played into the right channel and his first-time shot is on target - but blocked by the keeper’s outstretched arm.
Robertson’s corner is punched clear; Alexander-Arnold crosses from the opposite channel and Gakpo flicks a header goalwards, but it’s again saved.
Double sub for Leicester: Skipp and Buonanotte on for Winks and El Khannous.
62’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
A rare breakaway for Leicester and Mavididi finds Daka with a low cross from the left...but it’s a swing and a miss from the striker, who sees the ball bounce away off his standing leg instead of his shooting boot. An escape for Liverpool, who do only lead by the one despite this dominance.
A few subs starting to warm up and get ready to come on.
Richard Jolly’s latest:
“A quickfire double from Liverpool, with a goal either side of half-time, which could be seen as an example of pressure telling. Certainly Curtis Jones has shown a willingness to get into the box and got his reward with the second goal. Now Leicester face the problems of teams who score early and then concentrate on defence: can they switch gear when Liverpool no longer need to score?”
58’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Yellow card for Vestergaard for a dreadfully obvious foul on Gakpo, who was surging through the middle once more. Robertson was also booked, possibly for asking for a card in the first place - not clear, but deserved if that’s the case.
Mac Allister has already got two assists tonight and wants a third here - great shape on the cross, but well-defended as Van Dijk looked to flick it into the corner.
54’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
A very lengthy VAR check across about three different phases of play, but the goal is good and stands and Liverpool are ahead.
And Leicester are taking their goal kicks quickly again.
Nunez thinks he’s in for a quick third, but Leicester’s man between the sticks reacts quickly this time, leaping off his line to punch clear inside his six-yard box.
GOAL! 48’ - Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Didn’t take long and was coming right from kick-off! Alexander-Arnold has a shot blocked, Liverpool keep going, Jones wins it back and feeds Salah, Mac Allister goes on the overlap and his instant low delivery is met by Jones who has continued his run - sidefooted past the keeper and it’s 2-1 to Liverpool.
46' - Liverpool 1-1 Leicester
Back underway and immediately a chance for Darwin Nunez, but he steers his shot over the bar after Gravenberch’s cut-back.
Moments later Vestergaard passes back to Stolarczyk but he misses his control and it rolls behind for a needless corner.
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