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:
HT - Liverpool 1-1 Leicester
There’s the halftime whistle and more disgruntled faces from those in red - 20 seconds added to the two minutes, despite the goal, and Gakpo was heading towards the penalty box once more down that left flank. He’s stunned, Van Dijk offers a questioning look at the referee, but they’re all heading into the dressing rooms.
All square at the break.
GOAL! 45+1’ - Liverpool 1-1 Leicester
Arne Slot and the home crowd displeased over the time added - but they are much happier sixty seconds later!
Cody Gakpo skips infield past Justin’s challenge, lines up his strike...and bends it right into the top corner! Perfect effort and Liverpool are on level terms.
45’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Gakpo sprints infield, takes on Ayew and is taken out - yellow card. Another chance to deliver into the box and Robertson is taking this one, left-footed...it’s overhit and straight out of play.
Much better required second half for the home team, in set-piece delivery and in open play - but they’re within an inch or two of an equaliser before the break, as the ball is sent Salah’s way and he bends a brilliant shot past the keeper...and onto the crossbar.
Two minutes added on.
42’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Arne Slot just getting a bit animated now with the fourth official, as another Leicester player goes down to delay the taking of another goal kick. Every restart is taking a long time but the ref is so far showing no desire to speed matters up.
Salah now runs towards the box but he’s having very little luck one on one against Kristiansen so far.
Vestergaard wins another header and perhaps Liverpool need to offer something other than lots of crosses, which Nunez isn’t really winning many of.
Alexander-Arnold instead opts for a long-range shot...and skies his effort wildly off-target.
38’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
More pressure, Leicester very deep right now. A deeper delivery sees Nunez head back across from the far post but nobody is running in to finish. Alexander-Arnold this time goes short from a corner and it ends in him finding Gomez...Leicester still stand firm.
The Foxes counter-attack and Gomez, running back, clips Daka’s heels - easy yellow card.
34’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Gakpo delivers deep for Salah but the No11 gets far too much on the ball, whacking it back across the face of goal. Another set piece for the Reds though and, yet again, Alexander-Arnold’s delivery is awful. Cleared by the first man.
Richard Jolly’s latest thoughts:
“Liverpool have struck the post twice and have attacked incessantly. It feels a test of how long Leicester can withstand the pressure. There are definitely some within Anfield who would say their approach to keeping their lead involves timewasting, but there is plenty of time left. Liverpool haven't been helped by a couple of poor touches from Darwin Nunez so far.”
30’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Some big annoyance from Leicester fans as Daka goes down with a clip to the toe, and stays down. Leicester want the ball put out of play, Liverpool say no chance and continue to play. Eventually the ball is cleared and the referee blows his whistle to stop the game - now the home fans are enraged. Predictably, a few seconds later Daka is indeed back up and perfectly fine to continue.
A third of the match over and the league leaders trail to the team in 18th.
26’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
So nearly an equaliser twice! Mac Allister and Nunez combine, Salah clips a shot off the heels of Kristiansen and it loops over Stolarczyk...and onto the roof of the net! Another Alexander-Arnold corner is poor but the next delivery finds Robertson’s header, he hits the post, it bounces back off the keeper’s arms and behind for another corner!
Could easily have been an own goal, a Robertson goal or a tap-in for another red shirt, but the Foxes earn their fortune this time.
24’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Nunez belts a shot into a defender, then Gakpo is played in by Robertson and his first touch is excellent - then it bounces off his knee instead of falling kindly to shoot. Might have been offside too but the keeper is out quickly.
Liverpool starting to raise their game and tempo a bit more but Leicester look a threat on the break - one pass from Mavididi almost freed Daka into the box.
Gakpo winds his way past another challenge onto his right foot and shoots fiercely, but this time it’s over the bar and into the Kop.
20' - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
It’s...getting a bit foggy again. Not that Liverpool can lay the blame for this slow start on that, but it’s getting a bit tough to see what’s going on. Gravenberch fouls Ayew and the home support are starting to get a bit irked at the amount of time taken every time Leicester have a dead ball.
Salah spins his man and finds Jones in the box, but another cross is cleared and Stolarczyk claims the next one easily. 72% possession for Liverpool so far but no big chances since that early combo of Salah and Jones.
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