Liverpool extended their lead at the Premier League summit with a commanding 3-1 comeback victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. Despite early nerves caused by Leicester’s surprise opener, the Reds showed their championship mettle to secure three crucial points.
An Early Scare in the Mist
The match began in thick fog, adding a dramatic edge to the fixture. Leicester shocked the home crowd with a sixth-minute goal, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Andy Robertson. Jordan Ayew’s deft turn and precise finish put the relegation-threatened Foxes ahead.
Leicester, already struggling this season, came into the game without key players like Jamie Vardy and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Despite this, they looked determined to make life difficult for the league leaders.
Gakpo Saves the First Half
Liverpool labored to find their rhythm, but Cody Gakpo delivered a moment of brilliance just before halftime. The Dutch winger curled a superb effort past Leicester’s third-choice goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, leveling the scoreline at 1-1. This goal proved to be the turning point for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah Seal the Win
The Reds came out firing in the second half. Just four minutes in, Curtis Jones tapped in a close-range effort after sustained pressure from Liverpool. The goal’s validity was confirmed after a lengthy VAR review, much to the relief of the Anfield faithful.
Liverpool’s dominance continued, and Mohamed Salah added the third in the 82nd minute, calmly finishing a pass from Gakpo. Leicester failed to register a shot after the tenth minute, as the Reds tightened their grip on the game and the Premier League title race.
Player Ratings
Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Alisson – 6.5/10 Didn’t have much to do.
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.8/10 Provided creativity and energy down the right.
- CB: Joe Gomez – 7.9/10 Solid performance in the heart of the defense.
- CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7.8/10 Commanding as always.
- LB: Andy Robertson – 7.9/10 Recovered well after the early error.
- CM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7.1/10 Worked hard in midfield.
- CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 8.6/10 Controlled the game and showed class throughout.
- AM: Curtis Jones – 7.9/10 Scored the decisive goal and contributed well.
- RW: Mohamed Salah – 8.6/10 Clinical and impactful.
- ST: Darwin Nunez – 6.7/10
- LW: Cody Gakpo – 8.8/10 A match-winning performance with a goal and assist.
Substitutes:
- Dominik Szoboszlai (78’ for Jones) – 5.9/10
- Diogo Jota (78’ for Nunez) – 5.9/10
- Kostas Tsimikas (86’ for Robertson) – N/A
- Wataru Endo (87’ for Gravenberch) – N/A
- Harvey Elliott (92’ for Salah) – N/A
Leicester (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Jakub Stolarczyk – 6.3/10
- RB: James Justin – 6.1/10
- CB: Conor Coady – 5.8/10
- CB: Jannik Vestergaard – 6.2/10
- LB: Victor Kristiansen – 5.6/10
- CM: Harry Winks – 5.8/10
- CM: Boubakary Soumare – 5.5/10
- AM: Bilal El Khannous – 6.1/10
- RW: Jordan Ayew – 7.9/10
- ST: Patson Daka – 6.1/10
- LW: Stephy Mavididi – 7.2/10
Substitutes:
- Facundo Buonanotte (64’ for El Khannous) – 5.6/10
- Oliver Skipp (65’ for Winks) – 6.2/10
- Bobby De Cordova-Reid (87’ for Mavididi) – N/A
- Memeh Caleb Okoli (95’ for Coady) – N/A
Player of the Match
Cody Gakpo was the standout performer, contributing a goal and an assist to help Liverpool secure the win.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool’s resilience and quality shone through in this match, highlighting why they are title favorites. For Leicester, the fight to escape the relegation zone continues.
What’s next for Liverpool fans? Share your thoughts on this match in the comments below! Who do you think has been Liverpool’s best player this season? Let us know! Don’t forget to follow for more match reviews and player ratings!
