League leaders Liverpool host Leicester City in the Premier League in the late Boxing Day kick-off this evening, with the hosts looking to extend their lead at the top.
Arne Slot’s side put in a brilliant performance in beating Tottenham 6-3 last time out, with that win bringing their lead to four points along with their game in hand.
And they now face a Leicester side that has been struggling for form of late, having lost 3-0 to Wolves last weekend in what was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s fourth game in charge.
The Foxes sit in 17th, just two points above of the relegation places, ahead of a run of fixtures that also includes games against Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Follow all the latest build-up and team news from Anfield below:
24’ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Nunez belts a shot into a defender, then Gakpo is played in by Robertson and his first touch is excellent – then it bounces off his knee instead of falling kindly to shoot. Might have been offside too but the keeper is out quickly.
Liverpool starting to raise their game and tempo a bit more but Leicester look a threat on the break – one pass from Mavididi almost freed Daka into the box.
Gakpo winds his way past another challenge onto his right foot and shoots fiercely, but this time it’s over the bar and into the Kop.
20′ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
It’s…getting a bit foggy again. Not that Liverpool can lay the blame for this slow start on that, but it’s getting a bit tough to see what’s going on. Gravenberch fouls Ayew and the home support are starting to get a bit irked at the amount of time taken every time Leicester have a dead ball.
Salah spins his man and finds Jones in the box, but another cross is cleared and Stolarczyk claims the next one easily. 72% possession for Liverpool so far but no big chances since that early combo of Salah and Jones.
16’ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Alexander-Arnold delivers a cross which ends in a corner. Interesting set-up from the Reds for the set piece, with five beyond the far post and looking to run in…it’s cleared at the near post by the first man.
Mac Allister is the man in the middle currently trying to add a bit of steel and tempo about the home team’s play, as it’s a bit passive so far.
12’ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
Darwin Nunez nods one off target for the Reds after a Robertson cross.
Our Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly is at Anfield:
“So much for the control Arne Slot wanted. Liverpool’s last three league games have ended 3-3, 2-2 and 6-3 and they find themselves 1-0 down already. Jordan Ayew’s early goal has given Leicester a surprise lead. The last time Leicester visited Anfield in the Premier League, Liverpool’s match winner was Wout Faes, with two own goals. But he isn’t playing tonight, sadly for them.”
8’ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
No immediate response from the hosts – it’s Leicester who have the next couple of attacks, Mavididi running through the centre and not quite managing to get onto a lofted pass, then Justin firing over the bar after a corner was half-cleared.
The ball also hit Gakpo’s hand somewhere in the corner, but it was a deflection while he was facing the other way so no danger of a penalty. Liverpool certainly not up to speed yet though.
GOAL! 6’ – Liverpool 0-1 Leicester
That wasn’t in the script! Leicester have taken the lead! Mavididi beats Alexander-Arnold and crosses, Ayew shoulders Andy Robertson out the way and turns to fire low past Alisson, into the bottom corner! His 50th goal in English football, the Foxes lead 1-0!
4’ – Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Very early for a “should be ahead” post but…Liverpool should be ahead. A deep cross from the left finds Salah on the right and his initial shot is parried, it drops to Curtis Jones and he seems as though he just needs to roll it in…but in shifting it from one foot to the other it seems to get stuck under him a little, the keeper is out quickly and Leicester get bodies back to clear.
1’ – Liverpool 0-0 Leicester
Underway at Anfield!
The fog is thick but seemingly lifted slightly in the past hour or so. Liverpool in red, kicking towards the Kop in the first half after Leicester won the toss.
Liverpool v Leicester – live
As for Leicester, they started the Boxing Day round of games outside the bottom three – but with Wolves beating Manchester United, they’ve leapfrogged them.
One point separates the sides, with the Foxes now 18th, but Wolves have the better goal difference.
Victory at Anfield for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side will see them go level on points with Everton and Crystal Palace, while of course re-overtaking Wolves. A big ask, nonetheless.
Match facts
Leicester have won just one of their last 10 Boxing Day league games (D2 L7), with that coming in 2018-19 against eventual champions Manchester City.
The Foxes lost 4-0 against Newcastle and 3-0 against Wolves in their last two Premier League games. They last lost three consecutive league games by a margin of 3+ goals back in November 1958.
Jamie Vardy has scored eight Premier League goals against Liverpool, with only Andrew Cole (11) and Harry Kane (9) netting more against the Reds in the competition.