Liverpool took advantage of Chelsea's second consecutive misstep and pulled seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after defeating Leicester 3:1 in their last home game of the year, sportal.bg reported.
The Merseysiders found themselves trailing at "Anfield" after a goal by Jordan Ayew in the sixth minute. Cody Gakpo equalized just before the break, and in the second half Liverpool had complete supremacy and legalized their success with two more goals, scored by Curtis Jones (49') and Mohamed Salah (82'). Alexis Mc Allister accounted for two assists. Thus, the "Reds" are now seven points ahead of Chelsea and a game in hand over Arsenal, who could move into second place tomorrow. This is the 22nd consecutive match without a defeat in all competitions for Arne Slott's team. Leicester, on the other hand, suffered their third consecutive defeat and remain in the relegation zone.
Slott had made two changes from Liverpool's great match against Tottenham. Curtis Jones replaced Dominik Szoboszla in midfield, and Darwin Nunes started in place of Luis Diaz.
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy made three adjustments compared to the squad that suffered a heavy home defeat by Wolverhampton at the weekend. Jakub Stolarczyk was in goal. Harry Wilson and Patson Daka also started. Jamie Vardy was left out of the group due to injury.
Liverpool started attacking from the first seconds. The hosts had a very good opportunity to open the score in the fourth minute, when Salah intercepted Alexander-Arnold's cross from the air at the far post. Stolarczyk cleared it, then Curtis Jones tried to overcome the keeper, but he did well.
Two minutes later, Leicester surprisingly opened the score with their first attack of the match. Mavidivi made a very good break from the left, then crossed on the ground around the penalty spot. Robertson once again this season did not find his way, Jordan Ayew overtook him, turned and shot. The ball ricocheted off Van Dijk and entered Alisson's goal for 0:1.
In the following minutes, Liverpool began to attack quite uniformly, with the hosts crossing the ball a lot into the penalty area.
Leicester had a chance for a very dangerous counterattack in the 20th minute, but the ball did not reach Daka in the penalty area. Two minutes later, Gakpo missed a good chance, and then Salah's shot ricocheted off Christiansen and the ball "landed" in the net. In the 25th minute, the post saved the visitors after Robertson's header, who well intercepted Alexander-Arnold's cross.
Salah missed another chance in the 31st minute, when he failed to well intercept Gakpo's deep cross at the far post.
Liverpool's pressure was strong, but it never yielded results. In the 45th minute, luck turned its back on the hosts again, after Mohamed Salah's shot hit the crossbar.
Nevertheless, Liverpool managed to deservedly reach the equalizer in the added time of the first half. Cody Gakpo received a pass from Mac Allister on the left, easily beat Justin, then fired a great right-footed shot into the far corner - 1:1.
At the start of the second half, Nunes shot over the bar from a few metres.
In the 49th minute, Liverpool made a complete turnaround. Salah passed to Mac Allister on the right, then the Argentine crossed sharply to the near post, and Curtis Jones intercepted from a few metres. VAR reviewed the situation for a possible offside by the Egyptian, but there was none - 2:1.
In the 63rd minute, Nunes again missed a good opportunity after receiving a great pass from Salah, but from close range he failed to overcome Stolarczyk, who cleared it.
Five minutes later, Gakpo sent the ball into Leicester's goal for the third time, but after a long review with VAR, the goal was disallowed due to Nunes being offside.
In the 77th minute, Salah received a good pass, but shot straight into the hands of the Leicester goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, however, the Egyptian scored his duty goal after receiving from Gakpo, entering the penalty area, eliminating Christiansen and shooting into the far corner for the final 3:1.