Title charge stays on course
Liverpool’s relentless push towards a 20th top-flight crown continued with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, thanks to a late strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold. With the pressure mounting and the Premier League leaders facing fierce resistance, it was the returning full-back who broke the deadlock and potentially sealed Leicester’s fate in the process.
Out of action for over a month with an ankle injury, Alexander-Arnold made his 350th club appearance off the bench and delivered a defining moment. After a flurry of shots, including two that struck the woodwork, the England international rifled home a deflected effort to give Arne Slot’s side the lead in the 76th minute. His immediate celebration – removing his shirt – earned him a yellow card, but it was a moment of catharsis for both player and club.
Liverpool leave it late after relentless pressure
Despite registering 14 first-half attempts – their second-highest tally before the break this season – Liverpool were frustrated by a combination of heroic defending and fine goalkeeping. Leicester’s Mads Hermansen stood tall, denying Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas in a busy shift between the sticks.
Mohamed Salah came inches away from an opener inside three minutes, his shot ricocheting off both posts in a moment emblematic of Liverpool’s luck on the day. However, the statistics never lied: an xG of 0.81 at half-time to Leicester’s meagre 0.08 spoke volumes. Still, the Foxes held on until Alexander-Arnold’s decisive intervention.
“We had chances, but it was important to stay calm,” said Slot post-match. “This team knows how to win under pressure.”
Leicester’s fate sealed despite spirited fight
Leicester City entered this match knowing that anything short of a win would see their relegation confirmed – and so it proved. Despite moments of fight, including Wilfred Ndidi striking the post early on and Conor Coady seeing a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up, the Foxes couldn’t find a way through.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side now drop back to the Championship just 12 months after promotion, having gone a staggering nine consecutive home games without scoring – a club-record drought. The King Power crowd remained defiant throughout, roaring their team on even as time ebbed away.
“There’s pride in how we fought,” Van Nistelrooy admitted. “But ultimately, we weren’t good enough over the season.”
Alexander-Arnold’s impact felt instantly
It was no coincidence that Liverpool looked more composed and incisive after Alexander-Arnold’s introduction. Within minutes of stepping on, he dictated tempo, offered an outlet on the left, and delivered the moment that mattered most.
With this victory, Liverpool have now scored in 29 consecutive league matches and 19 away fixtures – both club records. More significantly, they are just three points away from securing the Premier League title with six matches remaining.
Their next challenge awaits, but with leaders like Alexander-Arnold returning to form, the signs are promising. Should results go their way, the Reds may yet celebrate a second title in five years – a fitting end to Arne Slot’s impressive debut season.
Liverpool delivered a dominant display in their latest Premier League outing, as illustrated by the match stats. Controlling 58% of possession compared to Leicester City’s 42%, the Reds dictated the tempo at the King Power Stadium and were relentless in their pursuit of a breakthrough.
Liverpool registered an astonishing 28 total shots, with 10 on target, while Leicester managed just five attempts and failed to test Alisson even once. The expected goals (xG) metric heavily favoured the visitors, with 2.62 to Leicester’s meagre 0.25, reflecting Liverpool’s consistent threat in the final third.
What truly stands out is the Reds’ creation of nine big chances — although they squandered all of them. Despite missing each opportunity, it highlights their ability to carve through Leicester’s defensive setup time and again. In contrast, Leicester created zero big chances, underscoring their lack of attacking penetration.
In midfield and build-up play, Liverpool were sharper and more accurate. They completed 428 passes with an impressive 87% accuracy, far surpassing Leicester’s 280 passes at 77%. This passing superiority allowed Arne Slot’s men to control proceedings and stretch the home side’s defensive structure.
Set-piece threat was also evident, with Liverpool earning 13 corners — compared to just one for Leicester. It’s another indicator of the volume of pressure they applied throughout the contest.
Overall, the stats tell the story of a one-sided encounter. Liverpool were superior in every key metric, and although they weren’t clinical in front of goal, their dominance was overwhelming — a performance befitting title contenders.
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