After Chelsea’s reversal defeat this afternoon against Fulham (1-2), Liverpool knew they were expected. And we won’t go so far as to say that Arne Slot’s men were facing the team of the century, with a sick Leicester facing them, for whom the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench is more like a palliative than anything else at the moment. Despite a slap in the face inflicted on West Ham for the Dutchman’s first three weeks ago, Leicester remained before this evening on three consecutive matches without a victory. A dark series which therefore stretched with this new defeat that could not be more logical against Liverpool (3-1).
Considering the spectacle offered by the two teams during their last duels, there was reason to be capricious, and visibly, even the thick fog of Liverpool was so since it had decided to obstruct our view, before finally dissipating and leaving us alone. In the first moments of the match, we were guided more by the ambient noises than the images, but that was enough for us to guess that something was already happening. For example, it only took two minutes to see Stolarczyk work in front of Curtis Jones, and six to see Jordan Ayew freeze Anfield. On a serve from Stephy Mavididi – the other former player from the south of France – the ex-Marseillais played intelligently with his body in front of Robertson, positioned himself perfectly in the space to turn around, and deceived Alisson with a flat foot diverted by van Dijk (6th, 0-1).
22 consecutive matches without defeat for the Reds
It would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that Liverpool’s 70% possession was a surprise, as the gap between the two teams remained striking. These highlights of the Reds resulted in several big chances, like that of Cody Gakpo, author of a great coat-hanger control in the depth, but at the end of the race to challenge Stolarczyk (17th), or that of Robertson, whose head successively hit Stolarczyk, then his post (26th). The moments of heat intensified on the Pole’s goal, and it was then Mohamed Salah’s turn to see the goal denied to him, after hitting the crossbar with a curling shot of which he keeps the secret so well ( 45th). Opportunities, far too many opportunities, so that each situation of the Reds seemed to increase the doubt, and shrink the opposing cage… until the solution finally came from Cody Gakpo. Found on the left side by Mac Allister, the Dutchman rewarded us with what we can almost now call the “Gakpo special”with this unstoppable wrapped shot, opposite side, and just before the break to knock out the foxes, like the weasel (45+1e, 1-1).
Revitalized, Anfield excited the appetite of its men, and Curtis Jones in turn took justice upon returning from the locker room. Salah found Mac Allister in depth, who offered his second decisive pass of the evening to Jones, behind, to conclude with a flat safety foot (49th, 2-1). But as appetite comes with eating, this goal must have called for others. Nunez first came up against Stolarczyk at 6 meters (63rd), while Gakpo was denied what he thought was his 11th goal of the season, for offside (68th), after having released a mine at the point of penalty. But the norm at the start of the season is to see Salah score. And this evening, the Egyptian had once again dipped his left foot in the holy water font. Launched by Gakpo on the side, he came to fix Kristiansen and found the gap to open his foot and deceive the Foxes goalkeeper (82nd, 3-1). A 16th goal in the Premier League, already, and which obviously does business for his club this evening. Accounting, Liverpool takes off and puts its runner-up Chelsea on 7 points, with a game in hand, while Leicester remains mired in the depths of the ranking with this 17th place. The Reds have not lost in 22 matches in all competitions, their best run in 35 years.
Relive the match film here.
