Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win over Leicester City at Anfield.
Second-placed Chelsea’s defeat by Fulham earlier on Boxing Day gave Arne Slott’s side the chance to extend their lead at the summit and they took it with both hands, albeit after an early scare.
Leicester took a shock lead in the sixth minute when Jordan Ayew curled in a low effort from Steffi Mavididi and found the bottom corner, but the hosts came roaring back.
Cody Gakpo equalized when he cut in from the left and curled a fine effort from the edge of the box in first-half stoppage time, and Liverpool then took the lead when Curtis Jones headed home Alexis McAllister’s low shot early in the second period.
Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring Liverpool’s goal against Leicester on Boxing Day
Mohamed Salah, who hit the crossbar in the first half, added some gloss to the result when he cut into the box from the right and finished superbly past Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk for his 16th Premier League goal of the season.
Liverpool’s lead at the top will be cut to six points if third-placed Arsenal beat Ipswich at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night, but Arne Slott’s side still have a game in hand, putting them in an even more commanding position in the title race.
Curtis Jones celebrates as Liverpool beat Leicester City 2-1.
Meanwhile, Leicester are 18th behind Wolves, a third successive Premier League defeat that leaves them a point from safety.
Can anyone stop Liverpool?
By the time the final whistle blew, Ayew’s opener seemed a distant memory, with Leicester not having a shot after the 10th minute.
Such is Liverpool’s ability to stifle their opponents, they kept their cool after falling behind, even as they struggled to find their rhythm. But Salah isn’t their only game-changer.
Gakpo is different. His equalizer was a beauty and the result was never in doubt after the break. Liverpool took the lead and of course Salah should have scored as well. In the end it looked as easy as it got claim Liverpool.
It’s been four months since they last lost, and the reverse fixture against Nottingham Forest looks more and more like an aberration. Recent draws against Newcastle and Fulham have also looked unusual, but Liverpool are now back on track to the flow.
Their unbeaten run is now 22 games in all competitions.They will be top of the table at the start of the year, regardless of the result against West Ham on Sunday. It becomes difficult to see any other result.
