Diogo Jota celebrates putting Liverpool ahead

Liverpool welcomed back Mohamed Salah and avenged a painful defeat to Leicester City as Diogo Jota’s double clinched a 2-0 win at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s men lost to the Foxes during a tough three-game run in the Premier League from December 19 to January 2, when Liverpool took just two points and Manchester City pulled away at the top.

This time it was the Reds who prevailed, Jota making the difference on a night when the hosts could have filled their boots. Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, enduring a tough campaign, was thankful for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel keeping the visitors in the game with a string of saves.

Liverpool’s newest recruit Luis Diaz made his Premier League debut and looked at home on the left of the front three, before substitute Salah, back from the Africa Cup of Nations, added pep to the hosts’ attack late on.

James Maddison had a decent early chance for Leicester, with Alisson forced to tip over the bar from the midfielder. A powerful strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold at the other end was then too close to Schmeichel who was able to push the ball behind.

Liverpool edged ahead in the 34th minute when a powerful Virgil van Dijk header from Alexander-Arnold’s corner was blocked by Schmeichel before Jota blasted in the loose ball from five yards.

Jota scooped over from close range just before the hour mark after Van Dijk won another header from a corner, with Liverpool looking to lock up the points. Klopp sent on Salah, fresh from Egypt duty, as Roberto Firmino made way on the hour mark.

Diaz rattled a shot into the Kop after running at the Leicester defense before Salah had a strike charged down by Schmeichel. Salah then looked sure to score as he raced through, only for Schmeichel to palm away his dinked shot on goal.

Salah hit the angle of left post and crossbar with a 20-yard attempt before Diaz had a scorcher repelled by the busy Schmeichel. Jota tied up the win in the 87th minute though, beating Schmeichel with a strike into the left corner after a nudge through from Joel Matip.

What does it mean? Foxes flummoxed, Reds rampaging

Liverpool had been beaten in their last two Premier League games against Leicester, having last lost three top-flight games in a row against the Foxes back in November 1963. There was never any real prospect of Leicester leaving with a result here though.

They had just one shot on target and were essentially cannon fodder. Liverpool is now unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games at Anfield (W11 D4) and have won their last six in a row at home.

The gap to leaders Manchester City has been trimmed to nine points and with Liverpool still having a game in hand, their title hopes remain just about intact.

Is Diaz automatic?

Should the new boy be playing every week after this impressive showing? There is stiff competition for places in Klopp’s front three and the former Porto forward did his prospects no harm, having four shots at goal, two of which hit the target.

He was roared off the pitch when Klopp substituted him late in the game. A goal would have made it the perfect night, but there will be plenty more opportunities for Diaz to shine.

Defiant Kasper can’t save Leicester

Schmeichel made nine stops in this game, saving Leicester from a real humbling. There have only been two instances this season of goalkeepers making more saves in a Premier League game (10, by Southampton’s Fraser Forster against Tottenham, and by Brentford’s Alvaro Fernandez against Liverpool).

What’s next?

Both of these teams are back in Premier League action on Sunday. Liverpool head to Burnley, and Leicester hosts high-flying West Ham.

Source: Livescore.