The Independent
·26 December 2024
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·26 December 2024
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Liverpool vs Leicester: Arne Slot relishing Ruud van Nistelrooy reunion
League leaders Liverpool host Leicester City in the Premier League in the late Boxing Day kick-off this evening, with the hosts looking to extend their lead at the top.
Arne Slot’s side put in a brilliant performance in beating Tottenham 6-3 last time out, with that win bringing their lead to four points along with their game in hand.
And they now face a Leicester side that has been struggling for form of late, having lost 3-0 to Wolves last weekend in what was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s fourth game in charge.
The Foxes sit in 17th, just two points above of the relegation places, ahead of a run of fixtures that also includes games against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
No immediate response from the hosts - it’s Leicester who have the next couple of attacks, Mavididi running through the centre and not quite managing to get onto a lofted pass, then Justin firing over the bar after a corner was half-cleared.
The ball also hit Gakpo’s hand somewhere in the corner, but it was a deflection while he was facing the other way so no danger of a penalty. Liverpool certainly not up to speed yet though.
Karl Matchett26 December 2024 20:11
Very early for a “should be ahead” post but...Liverpool should be ahead. A deep cross from the left finds Salah on the right and his initial shot is parried, it drops to Curtis Jones and he seems as though he just needs to roll it in...but in shifting it from one foot to the other it seems to get stuck under him a little, the keeper is out quickly and Leicester get bodies back to clear.
Karl Matchett26 December 2024 20:06
Underway at Anfield!
The fog is thick but seemingly lifted slightly in the past hour or so. Liverpool in red, kicking towards the Kop in the first half after Leicester won the toss.
Karl Matchett26 December 2024 20:02
As for Leicester, they started the Boxing Day round of games outside the bottom three - but with Wolves beating Manchester United, they’ve leapfrogged them.
One point separates the sides, with the Foxes now 18th, but Wolves have the better goal difference.
Victory at Anfield for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side will see them go level on points with Everton and Crystal Palace, while of course re-overtaking Wolves. A big ask, nonetheless.
Karl Matchett26 December 2024 19:55
Leicester have won just one of their last 10 Boxing Day league games (D2 L7), with that coming in 2018-19 against eventual champions Manchester City.
The Foxes lost 4-0 against Newcastle and 3-0 against Wolves in their last two Premier League games. They last lost three consecutive league games by a margin of 3+ goals back in November 1958.
Jamie Vardy has scored eight Premier League goals against Liverpool, with only Andrew Cole (11) and Harry Kane (9) netting more against the Reds in the competition.
Chris Wilson26 December 2024 19:50
So after Chelsea lost late on to Fulham earlier today, Liverpool have the chance to go a massive seven points clear at the top heading toward the new year - and they still have a game in hand, too.
Arsenal don’t play until tomorrow and they could cut that lead by a point if they win, while reigning champions Man City look well out of it - another draw today, against Everton, means that ahead of kick off Liverpool are 11 points clear of them, having played two fewer.
Karl Matchett26 December 2024 19:45
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 21 matches in all competitions (W18 D3). It’s their longest run without defeat since a streak of 25 between April and November 2021, and their longest within a single season since a run of 24 between January and May 1989.
The Reds have conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their first 13 under Arne Slot. However, the Reds have scored at least twice in each of their last nine league games, their longest such run since September-December 2021 (11).
If Mo Salah scores, he will become the eighth player to score 100+ goals on home soil in the league.
Chris Wilson26 December 2024 19:40
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.
Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool: As Slot’s men extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table, in-form individuals are thriving under a wider strategy
Chris Wilson26 December 2024 19:30
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.
Chris Wilson