Liverpool 3-1 Leicester (26 Dec 2024) Match Analysis

Liverpool came back after conceding early to bat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield on Thursday and open a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Struggling Leicester took a shock lead in the sixth minute Jordan Ayew but lived a charmed life until Cody Gakpo equalized at halftime.

Liverpool then put Leicester under siege right from the break and took just four minutes into the second half to go ahead Curtis Jones before Mohamed Salah secured the points with a superb finish in the 82nd minute.

The win extended their unbeaten league run to 13 games and advanced Liverpool to 42 points at the top of the standings.

They also have a game in hand over second place Chelseathere are 35, as well as third place Nottingham Forest on the 34th

On a foggy night in Liverpool, Leicester silenced the Anfield crowd with their early goal as Stephy Mavididis’ run down the left culminated in a square cross into the penalty area that found Ayew, who used his strength to see off the challenge of Andy Robertson and then return to slot home.

Robertson came close to redeeming himself when his header hit the upright in the 25th minute and a curling left-footed shot from Salah hit the crossbar in the 45th minute.

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Seconds later, Gakpo cut in from the left and hit a superb curling effort beyond the Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk for a deserved compensation.

Jones’ goal came after Liverpool moved the ball around in tight spaces before Alexis Mac Allister’s square pass was headed in by the Englishman.

There was a lengthy VAR review before the goal was confirmed and an equally long wait for a review when Gakpo found the net again in the 67th minute. It was eventually ruled offside.

Salah’s strike was another classy finish as he marked his 100th Premier League home goal with a characteristic cut from inside the right flank, followed by an expertly placed finish across the face of goal.

Liverpool could have won by a bigger margin, such was their dominance.

Leicester fell into the relegation zone before kickoff after Wolverhampton Wanderers walked over them earlier on Boxing Day after their 2-0 home win over Manchester United.

Leicester remained on 14 points after a third successive league defeat, two points above second from bottom Ipswich Town.

Liverpool are away at West Ham United next Sunday as Leicester host the champions Manchester City same day.