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:
16’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Alexander-Arnold delivers a cross which ends in a corner. Interesting set-up from the Reds for the set piece, with five beyond the far post and looking to run in...it’s cleared at the near post by the first man.
Mac Allister is the man in the middle currently trying to add a bit of steel and tempo about the home team’s play, as it’s a bit passive so far.
12’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Darwin Nunez nods one off target for the Reds after a Robertson cross.
Our Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly is at Anfield:
“So much for the control Arne Slot wanted. Liverpool's last three league games have ended 3-3, 2-2 and 6-3 and they find themselves 1-0 down already. Jordan Ayew's early goal has given Leicester a surprise lead. The last time Leicester visited Anfield in the Premier League, Liverpool's match winner was Wout Faes, with two own goals. But he isn't playing tonight, sadly for them.”
8’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
No immediate response from the hosts - it’s Leicester who have the next couple of attacks, Mavididi running through the centre and not quite managing to get onto a lofted pass, then Justin firing over the bar after a corner was half-cleared.
The ball also hit Gakpo’s hand somewhere in the corner, but it was a deflection while he was facing the other way so no danger of a penalty. Liverpool certainly not up to speed yet though.
GOAL! 6’ - Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
That wasn’t in the script! Leicester have taken the lead! Mavididi beats Alexander-Arnold and crosses, Ayew shoulders Andy Robertson out the way and turns to fire low past Alisson, into the bottom corner! His 50th goal in English football, the Foxes lead 1-0!
4’ - Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Very early for a “should be ahead” post but...Liverpool should be ahead. A deep cross from the left finds Salah on the right and his initial shot is parried, it drops to Curtis Jones and he seems as though he just needs to roll it in...but in shifting it from one foot to the other it seems to get stuck under him a little, the keeper is out quickly and Leicester get bodies back to clear.
1’ - Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Underway at Anfield!
The fog is thick but seemingly lifted slightly in the past hour or so. Liverpool in red, kicking towards the Kop in the first half after Leicester won the toss.
Liverpool v Leicester - live
As for Leicester, they started the Boxing Day round of games outside the bottom three - but with Wolves beating Manchester United, they’ve leapfrogged them.
One point separates the sides, with the Foxes now 18th, but Wolves have the better goal difference.
Victory at Anfield for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side will see them go level on points with Everton and Crystal Palace, while of course re-overtaking Wolves. A big ask, nonetheless.
Match facts
Leicester have won just one of their last 10 Boxing Day league games (D2 L7), with that coming in 2018-19 against eventual champions Manchester City.
The Foxes lost 4-0 against Newcastle and 3-0 against Wolves in their last two Premier League games. They last lost three consecutive league games by a margin of 3+ goals back in November 1958.
Jamie Vardy has scored eight Premier League goals against Liverpool, with only Andrew Cole (11) and Harry Kane (9) netting more against the Reds in the competition.
Liverpool v Leicester - live
So after Chelsea lost late on to Fulham earlier today, Liverpool have the chance to go a massive seven points clear at the top heading toward the new year - and they still have a game in hand, too.
Arsenal don’t play until tomorrow and they could cut that lead by a point if they win, while reigning champions Man City look well out of it - another draw today, against Everton, means that ahead of kick off Liverpool are 11 points clear of them, having played two fewer.
Match facts
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 21 matches in all competitions (W18 D3). It’s their longest run without defeat since a streak of 25 between April and November 2021, and their longest within a single season since a run of 24 between January and May 1989.
The Reds have conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their first 13 under Arne Slot. However, the Reds have scored at least twice in each of their last nine league games, their longest such run since September-December 2021 (11).
If Mo Salah scores, he will become the eighth player to score 100+ goals on home soil in the league.
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