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
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:
The irresistible combination behind Liverpool’s explosive rise under Arne Slot
Are you not entertained? After the seven-goal thriller came the excitement of nine goals. Tottenham found a way to go two better, but also significantly worse. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has witnessed 16 goals in four days, Spurs have veered from winning 4-3 to losing 6-3. Angeball can veer from the brilliant to the ridiculous, but rarely quite to this extent. And in reply to Ange Postecoglou’s question on Thursday: it was hugely entertaining, but this time too much of the entertainment came at Tottenham’s expense.
Even as Liverpool’s previously impressive defensive record took another dent – it is now eight goals conceded in three league games – they suggested they had a better balance. They have excelled at winning under Arne Slot but have rarely run riot. This time they did both, scoring six in a game for the first time under the Dutchman. “It was very good, maybe it was our best performance away from home,” said Slot, bracketing it with the 3-0 win at Manchester United.
It was certainly their most explosive attacking display, spearheaded – with a certain inevitability – by Mohamed Salah. He ended his afternoon with two goals, two assists and a sense he was too good for Djed Spence, the makeshift left-back luckless enough to be his immediate opponent. Luis Diaz, the stand-in centre-forward who has proved hugely effective there, added a double to his hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen.
The irresistible combination behind Liverpool’s explosive rise under Arne Slot
Match facts
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games against Leicester (W10 D2), since losing three in a row between 1997 and 2000.
Leicester have won just two of their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool (D1 L9). They’ve had three runs of three consecutive defeats in this run (including a current one), but they’ve not lost four straight league games against the Reds since between 1987 and 1996.
Head-to-head
These two sides have had 140 previous official meetings, with the first taking place in 1895. Overall, Liverpool have won 47, Leicester have won 35, and 22 have ended as draws.
These two sides met in the League Cup last season, with the Reds winning 3-1 in September 2023.
The last time these two sides met in the league was in May 2023, when Liverpool won 3-0 thanks to a goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold and a brace from Curtis Jones.
Arne Slot hails ‘best away performance’ of Liverpool reign after Spurs thriller
Arne Slot saluted the best away performance of his Liverpool reign after a 6-3 victory at Tottenham opened up a four-point lead at the Premier League summit.
The Reds produced a masterful attacking display in north London with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on target twice along with efforts either side of half-time by Alexis Mac Allister and the imperious Dominik Szoboszlai.
It was a thoroughly-deserved success for Slot’s men and made it 21 triumphs in 25 matches since he replaced Jurgen Klopp this summer in further evidence Liverpool are the best team in the country right now, but the 46-year-old pointed out they were not perfect in the capital.
Arne Slot hails ‘best away performance’ of Liverpool reign after Spurs thriller
Virgil van Dijk reveals current situation on Liverpool contract negotiations
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists there is “no deadline” regarding his contract situation.
The Netherlands international’s current deal expires in the summer and from next week he would be able to negotiate with overseas clubs about moving at the end of the season.
However, it is understood the 33-year-old’s preference is to stay at Anfield and the player himself is just concentrating on a campaign which has them top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Virgil van Dijk reveals current situation on Liverpool contract negotiations
Confirmed lineups - Liverpool v Leicester
Liverpool:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
Leicester: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Soumare, Winks; El Khannous, Ayew, Mavididi; Daka
Team news
The line-ups should be released in around five minutes...
Is Liverpool v Leicester on TV?
When is Liverpool vs Leicester?
Liverpool vs Leicester is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Thursday 26 December at Anfield.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video, with the streaming service showing every Boxing Day fixture in the Premier League.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.
Leicester XI: Stolarczyk; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Skipp, Soumare; De Cordova-Reid, Vardy, Mavididi.
Team news
Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley remain absent for Liverpool, but Arne Slot otherwise has a squad in good health.
Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen missed the defeat to Wolves, while the game also came too soon for deputy Jakub Stolarczyk after injury. Danny Ward may be replaced by the Pole with Hermansen again a major doubt.
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