Liverpool’s title lead is built on more than just stars and starters
Subscribe To Miguel Delaney’s Free Newsletter
Subscribe To Miguel Delaney's Free Newsletter
Subscribe To Miguel Delaney's Free Weekly Newsletter
I would love to receive emails about special offers, events, and news from The Independent. Please take a look at our privacy policy.
Liverpool is used to singing about facing challenges head-on. In this match, they found themselves navigating through uncertainty when Leicester City scored first. However, they ultimately emerged strong, finishing seven points ahead at the top of the Premier League, enjoying the added advantage of having a game in hand over Chelsea, who sit in second place.
Making a comeback is usually Jurgen Klopp's specialty. While Arne Slot may have dealt with more challenges than he would prefer, the latest situation was both necessary and handled well. As a result, his team achieved their 22nd victory in 26 matches under his guidance. In a league where many teams struggle with inconsistency, Liverpool shines brightly as a notable exception.
It's a big advantage for them to have a strong lineup filled with match-winners. While Mohamed Salah is certainly the star—scoring a crucial goal after having previously hit the crossbar and being denied by a great save—the match was really influenced by Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones. Both players started the season on the sidelines and may not be regulars in Slot's preferred lineup. Gakpo made a strong argument for a starting spot by scoring a fantastic equalizer, bringing his season total to double figures alongside Salah and a rested Luis Diaz, and he also capped off his performance with an assist.
The situation was especially harsh for the struggling manager. In the half-year Gakpo spent under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven, he showed significant improvement. In a dramatic turn, he equalized against Leicester with a remarkable goal, which pushed his former mentor's team into the relegation zone. Interestingly, Gakpo's goal—a spectacular shot from 25 yards—wasn't typical of Van Nistelrooy's playing style, as the latter rarely scored from outside the box. Nevertheless, this goal sparked the shift that Liverpool had long been on the verge of achieving.
They handled the situation well when they were behind, managing to stay calm and not becoming overly defensive despite having ample control of the ball. Sometimes, pressure has an impact, and this was one of those moments. Leicester demonstrated a strong determination to maintain their lead for a considerable time. However, it wasn’t shocking when Liverpool turned the game around. Slot’s team has a knack for this kind of comeback and carries a certain momentum with them.
Some of their latest games may not have gone as smoothly as the Dutchman had hoped. Liverpool has allowed nine goals in their last four league matches. Even without Jamie Vardy, who is sidelined with a minor injury, Leicester quickly made their mark. Jordan Ayew connected with Stephy Mavididi’s low pass, turned past Andy Robertson, who was caught out of position, and scored at Alisson's near post. After receiving a red card against Fulham, Robertson faced another tough start. With Leicester dropping into the bottom three for the first time this season, it looked like they were on their way to pulling themselves out of that position—at least until just before half-time.
Liverpool showed no mercy on the field, continuously sending in cross after cross and earning numerous corners. Premier League newcomer Jakub Stolarczyk, taking the place of the benched Danny Ward, made an impressive save from Salah just three minutes into the match. The goalposts were certainly busy that day, with Robertson hitting the woodwork after directing a header from a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah also nearly scored, hitting the bar with a well-placed shot.
Gakpo scored an equalizer after receiving a pass from Mac Allister. The World Cup champion contributed two assists in just a few minutes, both before and after the break. His overlapping run led to a cutback that was finished by Jones. Similar to the way Argentina scored against Tottenham on Sunday, Liverpool benefited from having two of their central midfielders in the box simultaneously.
The scoring came to an end when Gakpo passed the ball to the right side, allowing Salah to curve in a shot for his 19th goal of the season and his 12th in the last 10 league matches.
Liverpool had opportunities to score more goals earlier in the match, but Darwin Nunez's unpredictable touch got in the way. He unintentionally initiated a counter-attack for Leicester and sent a shot soaring over the goal. Later, when Salah set him up for a great chance, he hit the ball directly at Stolarczyk. Additionally, Nunez was caught offside when Gakpo's second goal was ruled out, even though Gakpo struck the ball powerfully.
In his pursuit of a third goal, Slot substituted in Dominik Szoboszlai, who ended up receiving a yellow card that will result in a suspension. He will be unavailable for the match against West Ham on Sunday, but Liverpool will head into that game with a strong advantage in the title race.
Leicester is set to face Manchester City while struggling in their current situation. In Van Nistelrooy's initial four matches, they conceded 82 shots, and by the fifth game, that dreadful number reached 100. Back in the Netherlands, he competed for the championship with Slot. Now, the title seems likely to head to Liverpool, and Leicester needs to make sure they remain in the same league as Liverpool next season.
