Good evening, you’re very welcome to our liveblog of today’s top-of-the-table clash.
Liverpool go into this match in remarkable form, winning 16 and drawing one of their Premier League matches so far.
However, Leicester away represents one of their toughest challenges and one of the few games where it is conceivable that they could drop points.
The Foxes currently sit second, 10 points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand on them.
And so a Reds win tonight and it seems almost impossible for Leicester to still be capable of launching a title challenge.
Man City will also be watching this game with a keen interest. They could leapfrog Leicester in the table if Brendan Rodgers’ men drop points tonight and they overcome Wolves tomorrow.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side would surely take more encouragement from a Leicester victory this evening as they take on a Liverpool team who have appeared invincible thus far in the campaign.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams…
🔴 #LEILIV TEAM NEWS 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2019
📋 Our line-up tonight to face @LCFC... https://t.co/RNEBNPkC9Y
In the blue corner 🔵#LeiLiv team news - sponsored by @eToro!
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 26, 2019
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
“Congratulations to Liverpool on winning the Club World Cup,” declares #lcfc legend Alan Birchenall. Loud boos from home fans. “We’re champions of the world,” chant #lfc fans. Loud. #LEILIV pic.twitter.com/TAWdVeXebL
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 26, 2019
Liverpool have started well.
First, Alexander-Arnold’s pot shot is saved by Schmeichel with relative ease.
Then, Mane can’t quite properly connect with a dangerous Salah cross.
A sloppy pass from Evans concedes possession.
Salah’s subsequent finish from the edge of the area is poor, going well over.
Liverpool are under the cosh now.
Dennis Praet plays a through ball that narrowly misses Vardy.
Moments later, Vardy’s cross needs to be cleared out by Robinson for a corner.
Liverpool then break from the ensuing set piece.
Keita plays through Salah, who rounds Schmeichel, but can only find the side-netting from a very tight angle.
Not for the first time, Leicester concede possession in a dangerous area, with Ndidi the culprit on this occasion.
Henderson’s shot from the edge of the area is then deflected just wide.
Both sides have defended quite well so far.
Evans has just produced a good defensive header to stop a cross reaching Salah.
LEICESTER 0-1 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 31)
Liverpool are ahead and it’s a typical Reds goal.
Alexander-Arnold produces an exceptional curling cross and Firmino heads home.
That’s three in three games for the Brazilian now, after he had a fairly slow start to the season in terms of goals scored.
Big chance for Liverpool to double their advantage.
Sadio Mane finds himself through on goal, but his finish is straight at Schmeichel.
Moments later, the Senegal international charges towards goal, but Ndidi does well to make a timely interception.
Nobody in Europe plays with the assurance, confidence, solidarity, pace, insistence, intensity with and without the ball, and the feeling of having fun that @LFC displays constantly
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 26, 2019
Such pleasure to see a football winning vision applied regularly on a pitch
Leicester have been fairly poor so far.
They’ve barely threatened, and at the moment, it’s hard to imagine any outcome other than a Liverpool victory.
Liverpool are controlling the game very well now.
It’s a performance worthy of title winners.
HALF-TIME: LEICESTER 0-1 LIVERPOOL
Here’s a look at the only goal so far…
🔴 Firmino heads Liverpool into the lead!
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) December 26, 2019
👏 A perfect cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold put it on a plate, and the Brazilian converts as you'd expect
🏆 Is it going to be another big night for Klopp's team's title push? pic.twitter.com/oUSUnS33sW
Per Premier Sports, Leicester have yet to register a shot on target.
That sums up how tame a performance it has been from the home side.
By contrast, Liverpool have largely controlled the game and seldom looked like conceding.
Jurgen Klopp’s side’s only regret at half-time will be that they are not leading by more than one goal, with a couple of decent chances missed.
19 - Since the start of last season, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 19 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player. Talent. #LEILIV pic.twitter.com/TbQATc6ZXW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2019
The second half has begun…
Liverpool continue to play with purpose as they seek to score the all-important second goal.
Ricardo Pereira does well to head Alexander-Arnold’s cross clear under pressure from Robertson.
Good chance!
Praet concedes possession to Robertson.
The cross finds Firmino, who cannot steer his first-time finish on target.
Liverpool are increasingly dominant as this game progresses.
At the moment, they look like two teams that are 10 points apart in the league.
Liverpool have had 10 shots to Leicester’s one.
The Reds have also had 61% of the possession, according to the BBC.
With the game not going their way, the Foxes make a change, with Marc Albrighton replacing Harvey Barnes.
Suddenly the crowd come alive.
They break through Vardy, and the striker is taken down by Gomez just outside the area.
The Liverpool defender gets booked as a result.
There’s a moment of panic for Liverpool’s defence.
Ricardo Pereira gets away from Robertson down the right, but Van Dijk is well positioned to block the Leicester star’s cross.
Leicester have been better these last few minutes. Might Liverpool rue their missed chances ultimately?
Liverpool outstanding for the first hour, but it's funny how one moment changes a game: Robertson with a bad backpass, Alisson with a sliced volley clearance that went out for a throw, and all of a sudden Leicester are full of beans.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) December 26, 2019
This game has become increasingly stretched, with Liverpool looking well capable of punishing their opponents on the counter.
They break through Salah, but Söyüncü does really well to stand his ground and make the tackle.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
LEICESTER 0-2 LIVERPOOL (MILNER 71)
Milner doubles Liverpool advantage with his first kick of the match from the penalty spot, after replacing Keita, striking it straight down the middle as Schmeichel dives to his left.
The penalty was awarded after a corner played in came off the hand of Söyüncü.
Origi has also replaced Salah for Liverpool.
LEICESTER 0-3 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 75)
Another goal for Liverpool and another assist from Alexander-Arnold.
The full-back’s low cross picks out Firmino. The Brazilian calmly takes a touch, before nonchalantly slotting the ball into the top corner to leave Schmeichel with no chance.
Leicester respond by making another change, as Choudhury comes on for the ineffectual Maddison.
LEICESTER 0-4 LIVERPOOL (ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 78)
Liverpool, as they’re afforded increasing amounts of space, break forward.
Mane lays it to Alexander-Arnold, who fires it into the corner of the net first time in Carlos Alberto-esque fashion.
That’s the goal his performance has deserved.
Worrying scenes for Liverpool, as Henderson is down receiving treatment.
He’s then replaced by Adam Lallana.
🍰 Firmino puts the icing on the cake!
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) December 26, 2019
🔴 His second, his team's third, and Livepool have all but wrapped up a VITAL win for their title aspirations pic.twitter.com/Db6AEuzAHf
The pace of this game has slowed considerably with the outcome no longer in doubt.
Liverpool are set to go 13 points clear at the top with a game in hand on Leicester.
FULL-TIME: LEICESTER 0-4 LIVERPOOL
313 teams in PL history have ended the season with fewer points than Liverpool have after 18 games
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) December 26, 2019
Well, that’s that.
Liverpool were simply better than Leicester in every department today.
It was some statement from the Reds, who were dominant for much of the contest, not even allowing Leicester a shot on target.
Alexander-Arnold was a deserving man of the match, with a well-taken goal and two equally impressive assists.
With 13 points and a game in hand on Leicester, it would surely take a minor miracle to stop Liverpool from lifting the Premier League title for the first time.
500 - Roberto Firmino's second goal against Leicester was the 500th Liverpool have scored under Jurgen Klopp in all competitions. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/VEuJ5bfK2N
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2019
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to follow.
And you can read our match report here.
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