Leicester City 0-3 Liverpool: Late Trent Alexander-Arnold stunner, Curtis Jones double give Reds crucial victory

Liverpool moved to within one point of the Champions League places thanks to a 3-0 demolition of Leicester City on Monday evening.

Leicester started the game brightly and with energy, competing physically for first and second balls and defending their 18-yard box stoutly as Liverpool started to probe.

Liverpool started to dominate the match and after 33 minutes Jurgen Klopp’s side made the breakthrough. Mohamed Salah played in a brilliant cross and Curtis Jones was on hand at the back post to convert.

Just three minutes later Liverpool had a second courtesy of the same combination for the first. Salah found Jones who controlled the ball brilliantly before firing a tremendous effort past Daniel Iversen.

Leicester had their best chance of the match after 52 minutes when Harvey Barnes’ curling effort was smartly tipped behind by Alisson Becker.

Liverpool made it 3-0 after 71 minutes thanks to a world-class effort from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah backheeled a free kick to open up the angle for Alexander-Arnold who bent his effort into the top corner.

Salah missed a glorious effort to make it 4-0 10 minutes from time, firing his effort wide of the target when he looked certain to score.

TALKING POINT – CHASING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Liverpool have moved to just one point of the UEFA Champions League positions thanks to tonight’s win, having played one more match than Manchester United and Newcastle United. Jurgen Klopp’s side have not had the best of seasons but they are ending this campaign brilliantly having now won seven consecutive matches in the Premier League, scoring 19 goals and conceding seven and they are unbeaten in their last nine. The Reds have two matches left against Aston Villa and relegated Southampton and in this current form you wouldn’t bet against them picking up maximum points and pushing the two sides above them on 66 points all the way.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – CURTIS JONES (LIVERPOOL)

Liverpool had a few contenders for the award tonight, Trent Alexander-Arnold was excellent as was Mohamed Salah who got his first hat-trick of assists in the Premier League but Curtis Jones was the standout performer for Liverpool at the King Power. Jones took both of his goals supremely well, his second especially was an absolute beauty. His passing was accurate and positive, he competed well defensively when needed too – winning five duels and making three tackles. Overall it was a thoroughly accomplished performance from the 22-year-old.

PLAYER RATINGS

Leicester City: Iversen 6, Ricardo P 6, Faes 6, Evans 6, Castagne 6, Tielmans 7, Ndidi 7, Soumare 6, Maddison 6, Vardy 6, Barnes 6 Subs: Tete 6, Daka 6, Thomas 6, Souttar N/A

Liverpool: Alisson 7, Robertson 7, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Alexander-Arnold 8, Jones 9, Fabinho 7, Henderson 7, Diaz 6, Gakpo 7, Salah 9. Subs: Milner 6, Jota 6, Carvalho N/A, Elliott N/A

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

33′ GOAL – LIVERPOOL FC – Curtis Jones has given Liverpool the lead! Mohamed Salah plays in a fantastic cross to the far post and Jones was on hand to finish.

36′ GOAL – LIVERPOOL FC – Curtis Jones has scored again! Salah finds Jones who brilliantly fires his effort past Iversen.

52′ A GREAT SAVE FROM ALISSON! – That is Leicester’s best chance so far this afternoon. Harvey Barnes tries to bend it into the far corner but Alisson dives across well to tip it behind for a corner.

71′ GOAL – LIVERPOOL FC – Trent Alexander-Arnold has scored Liverpool’s third with a world class free kick. A fantastic hit. Mohamed Salah with a clever backheel which Trent runs onto and bends into the top corner.

KEY STAT

Liverpool have now won seven consecutive matches, only Manchester City have put together a longer winning run in the Premier League this season.