Postmortem: Salah and Mac Allister Shine in Liverpool’s 3-1 Victory | OneFootball

Liverpool 3-1 Leicester – The Postmortem

The atmosphere at Anfield was full of festive spirit, as well as the spirits that would have been consumed in the build-up to this game. With Liverpool looking to solidify their place at the pinnacle of the Premier League standings, this game was always likely to deliver a standout performance that would represent the perfect way to end this year’s Boxing Day.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

Starting Eleven

GK – Alisson Becker

RB – Trent Alexander Arnold

RCB – Joe Gomez

LCB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

LB – Andy Robertson

CM – Alexis Mac Allister

ACM – Curtis Jones

CM – Ryan Gravenberch

RF – Mohamed Salah

CF – Darwin Núñez

LF – Cody Gakpo

Subs

Diogo Jota – Darwin Núñez (77 mins)

Dominik Szoboszlai – Curtis Jones (77 mins)

Wataru Endō – Ryan Gravenberch (86 mins)

Kostas Tsimikas – Andy Robertson (86 mins)

Harvey Elliott – Alexis Mac Allister (90+1 mins)

Goals (Assisted by)

Liverpool 0 – 1 Leicester

Jordan Ayew (Stephy Mavidi) 6 mins

Liverpool 1 – 1 Leicester

Cody Gakpo (Alexis Mac Allister) 45+1 mins

Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester

Curtis Jones (Alexis Mac Allister) 49 mins

Liverpool 3 – 1 Leicester

Mohamed Salah (Cody Gakpo) 82 mins

Important Match Stats

Possession

Liverpool 69% – 31% Leicester

XG

Liverpool 1.83 – 0.33 Leicester

Total Shots

Liverpool 19 – 4 Leicester

Corner Kicks

Liverpool 14 – 1 Leicester

Off Sides

Liverpool 3 – 2 Leicester

Fouls

Liverpool 17 – 5 Leicester

Goalkeeper Saves

Liverpool 0 – 4 Leicester

First Half

The beginning of the game was a positive and aggressive display from the hosts, as Arne Slot chose a team aimed at overwhelming the visitors, who were struggling to adapt to life back in the Premier League. In the first five minutes, Liverpool showed an intensity that seemed impossible for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s newly promoted side to match. However, this momentum was abruptly halted in the sixth minute when the visitors executed a routine breakaway. Jordan Ayew received a low cross, finding space and time to turn and shoot, stunning the Anfield faithful with the opening goal.

Photo: IMAGO

In the buildup to that goal, senior players Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk failed to effectively challenge either the cross or the eventual shot. Fortunately for the table-topping Merseyside giants, this early wake-up call allowed them to regroup. Pre-game tactics may have been overly complicated; Leicester, a team that has struggled defensively, was expected to falter under continuous pressure from crosses. Yet, as wing-backs, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold kept launching balls into the box along with a series of poorly executed corners. Their inefficient game plan let the Foxes settle in, making the penalty area only lightly contested. Although Robertson had a header that struck the post, little else came from Liverpool’s attacks apart from a curling effort from Mohamed Salah that bounced off the crossbar.

As the clock approached halftime, with the Liverpool dressing room filled with dissatisfaction, Alexis Mac Allister, the Argentina World Cup winner, released Cody Gakpo. Gakpo cut inside and delivered an emphatic shot across the City goal into the top corner. The half ended with the score level at 1-1, significantly improving the outlook for the away team.

The Second Half

At the start of the second half, Liverpool made no changes to the same eleven players who had underperformed in the first half. Throughout the season, this Arne Slot team has frequently re-entered matches with strategic adjustments that sometimes hinder the opposing team. In this case, shorter and more incisive passing around the final third was required. The 26-year-old midfielder, Mac Allister, once again provided the vital assist that shifted the pace of the game. Despite a disappointing first half, Curtis Jones drove into the danger zone and connected with a low cross from his teammates before scoring Liverpool’s second goal, turning the score from 0-1 to 2-1 in just a few minutes. From that point on, the contest seemed secure for Liverpool.

Photo: IMAGO

Aside from a disallowed goal that prevented Gakpo from extending his tally, the Reds controlled the game, with the state of play posing no real threat to the six-time European champions. Dominating the field and creating several half-chances, Gakpo finally found the ideal through ball to release his Egyptian teammate, Mohamed Salah. Salah skillfully navigated his marker into the box before curling a sublime effort inside the far corner.

Although the game felt settled, another Boxing Day goal from Liverpool’s record-breaking goal scorer was consistent with recent performances. The substitutions were timely but unfortunate for incoming replacement Dominik Szoboszlai, whose yellow card means he will miss the upcoming trip to West Ham on Sunday.

Final Thoughts

This match was crucial for solidifying their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings over second-placed Chelsea. Signs are strong that if Liverpool can maintain this level of success until the season’s end, ultimate triumph will follow.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction;

Liverpool 4 – 0 Leicester