Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool deliver masterclass at Leicester to put one hand on Premier League title

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson
Trent Alexander-Arnold played a part in all of Liverpool's goals Credit: Reuters

As the phenomenon of this 2019 Liverpool team sweeps towards the year’s end, there will have been those in the away seats at the King Power stadium who may have found it hard to recall the emotions and sensations that once accompanied defeat in the league.

Champions of Europe, champions of the world, winners of the most one-sided first-against-second Premier League showdown since 2011. This unbeaten league run of Jurgen Klopp’s side now stretches back to Jan 3, encompassing a mighty 35 games over two seasons, and has put them so far ahead of the rest of the Premier League in this campaign that they dare not look back. Their lead now stands at 13 points over second-place Leicester City, although on this night it did not feel like one place separated the two teams, rather it felt like the Premier League’s leaders belonged in a different stratosphere.

For a while on Saturday, Leicester had briefly dared to believe they might be the match of Manchester City before the reality intervened, although against Liverpool it was never up for debate. If the first half was uncomfortable for Brendan Rodgers’ team then the second half took them to places they did not want to go as they were first pressurised, then demolished by the relentless attacking forces of a side on top of their game.

There were two goals for Roberto Firmino and a converted penalty for substitute James Milner, with what was virtually his first touch. And the stand-out player was still Trent Alexander-Arnold. He provided two assists for Firmino and then the 21 year-old swept in his second goal of the season to put the flourish on the end of a great night for the leaders. This was one of those occasions that felt important in the profile of a season in which, if it does deliver Anfield’s first championship in 30 years, the sacking of the King Power will be considered pivotal.

Should Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday they will go into the New Year with a 13-point lead, at the very least. If they avoid defeat at home to Sheffield United four days after that they will pass the one-year anniversary since their previous Premier League defeat. Can they really blow this now? This, being the club’s great quest for the one trophy, the absence of which has defined their struggle in the last three decades. For all the years when they thought they were close, there has been no effort quite so immense as this one – so far, at least.

Roberto Firmino's header set Liverpool on their way Credit: Reuters

Leicester try to play the game the same way as the big boys, although unfortunately for them over the last two games the big boys have shown that they have done it for longer with players that Rodgers’ club simply cannot afford or retain. The Leicester manager thought afterwards that his team had at times eluded the jaws of the Liverpool press in the first half but had failed to capitalise on that.

The threat of Jamie Vardy in behind the high back-line is one that every team who plays on the front foot has to contend with. On Saturday, Pep Guardiola had said that any side in the world would have to accept that the Premier League’s top goalscorer would get in behind on at least a couple of occasions over 90 minutes and maybe more. At the Etihad Stadium he had done just that but the Liverpool defence was locked shut. No shots on target for the home side told its own story.

Liverpool celebrate putting the game beyond Leicester Credit: AFP

Leicester held out to a single goal behind until the last 20 minutes but there was always the sense that they were creaking and when Klopp’s players knew that the game was there to kill, so came the goals. There are not many careers in this game that see days like this – champions of Europe, champions of the world, ploughing through domestic opposition – and yet Klopp knows that the bear-traps are there. “I can write the story by myself,” he said. “'Never before in the history of British football has a team had a bigger lead and lost that lead'. That sounds in my ears a negative. So why should we think about something like that?”

Perhaps because it is impossible for the club and its supporters on nights like these to imagine what the Premier League trophy would look like in the hands of Alexander-Arnold, or Sadio Mane or Klopp himself on a warm May day at Anfield. They do not want to let the mind stray forward to what could be 20 games from now, although it will be increasingly impossible for them to avoid doing so if the performances continue this way.

Liverpool had scored just after the half hour, and it was certainly no surprise. The home side were finding it harder and harder to get the ball away and then keep it for a meaningful amount of time. So when Alexander-Arnold swung that right foot from the right there was always a chance it would find its mark. Had Firmino not got a good contact at the back post, Mohamed Salah was waiting to do the same.

There had been other chances in behind a Leicester back-line that was dropping ever deeper. Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans did their best to head and intercept what they could and for the rest there was Kasper Schmeichel forcing Salah wide when he broke through, or getting a hand to a Mane hit from close range. Late in the first half Leicester’s problems were encapsulated in the space of a few seconds, when James Maddison had a rare run with the ball, threw in a step-over and then had possession swiftly pinched by Alexander-Arnold.

Maddison would later come off, a yellow card against his name, and a lot of frustration at how things were going for him and his team. Leicester were decisively broken with less than 20 minutes left when an Alexander-Arnold corner struck the hand of Soyuncu who had leaned in towards the ball. Milner dispatched that and then two more goals came swiftly.

Firmino initiated the move for his second, moving into the box to score from Alexander-Arnold’s cross. The right-back struck the fourth goal from the right with a clean, precise swish of the right boot – as if there are any other from his outstanding young player. “He plays full-back like a midfielder,” said Rodgers later of his former player, an elegant summary of Alexander-Arnold’s style, and, indeed, Liverpool’s general philosophy.

Liverpool march on 

No more to be said

FT: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

We hoped this would be one of the games of the season, and in a way it was. This was a signature Liverpool performance. When this season is discussed in years to come this demolition of an upwardly mobile Leicester team will be called to mind as the day Liverpool proved beyond all doubt that they are the best team in the country. 13 clear with a game in hand on Leicester. Can they now go unbeaten?

90 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

Three minutes of stoppage time to play. 

89 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

Liverpool fans have a new chant to the tune of Oh Come All Ye Faithful, but I cannot make out all of the lyrics. We might hear it again over the Christmas period. 

86  minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

Liverpool have dismantled Leicester here, but should be stressed that they are on course for a fantastic season and a top four finish. Elements of the last two games are disappointing, but I don't think anyone seriously though Leicester were on a level footing with either Liverpool or City. They have overachieved. 

83 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

Liverpool know each other and their system so well they could almost play blindfolded. Not signing a player in the summer was not a weakness but a sign of their strength. 

79 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 4

Liverpool have been a class apart all evening, but here is a worry for them...Henderson is down and in a lot of pain by the looks of things. Knee hyperextended possibly. 

GOOOAAAAL! Alexander-Arnold caps his performance with a goal

Drills a shot across Schmeichel from the edge of the penalty area, struck with the outside of his foot so it starts wide of the far post a fades back from left to right. 

77 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 3

This is getting ugly for Leicester now, Liverpool pouring forward again....

On the way to the title...

GOOOOAAALL! Liverpool's 500th under Jurgen Klopp

The quality from wide is magnificent again, as Alexander-Anrold fizzes a ball behind the retreating Leicester defence for Firmino, who takes a step back and curls into the top corner from 10 yards. Great work from the Brazilian in the build up too.

GOOOOOOAAAALL! Milner doubles Liverpool's lead

The pattern of the game is now reflected in the scoreline. Leicester have had a good 10 minutes, but that might be that. Milner sends Schmeichel the wrong way. 


Soyuncu penalised for handball as the corner got past the near post screen. You could tell by the players' reaction there was not much argument. The ball struck his left arm, and Soyuncu leaned towards it. 

Milner to take from the spot - has only just come on!

69 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Ricardo getting forward again, but diligent from Henderson to get across and narrow his angles and choices. Good ball retention from Mane initially but Ndidi snaps in with a tackle. Chilwell stands a cross up that Wijnaldum heads away. 

Lovely give and go from Mane and Firmino to start a counter but Salah's shot is deflected behind. Jurgen Klopp can finally make his substitutions. Milner and Origi for Keita and Salah. 

66 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita are the players coming off for Liverpool. Vardy had some space to attack there behind Gomez but Van Dijk, as ever, shuffled across to clear for a throw in. 

64 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Alisson rushed into punting straight out of play and Leicester's crowd roar in approval. A minute or so later, Ricardo shows a trick to wriggle into the Liverpool area but he delays his low cross and drills it straight at the legs of Virgil van Dijk. 

James Milner and Divock Origi getting stripped for Liverpool. 

62 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Soyuncu throws his arms to the air as Liverpool when a contentious corner...and you can see why. Should have been a goal kick. 

A Liverpool corner gives Leicester a chance to counter though and Vardy has Gomez isolated on the left, drops a shoulder to duck inside and Gomez hangs a leg to bring him down. Yellow card and a Leicester free kick on the left corner of the box. 

Really poor from Maddison though, too deep and loopy and it's straight out for a goal kick.

60 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Firmino misplaces a pass as Liverpool probe around the edge of the Leicester penalty area again. Leicester have at least had a shot in this half, but still no effort on target. 

58 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Salah has hit the post...but the flag was up anyway. This is a 1-0 battering. Albrighton about to come on and replace Barnes. Rodgers' decision to shunt Maddison left will be questioned given the damage done by Alexander-Arnold. 

55 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool's full-backs involved at every opportunity, this time Robertson sends a cross flying across the Leicester penalty area. Alexander-Arnold returns the favour moments later and after some pinball Leicester clear. 

Ooooohhh....Robertson whips another wicker cross to the near post, Firmino opens up his right foot to direct a volley towards the far corner but like a snooker player catching a cut too thin, it misses the target. 

52 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Ally McCoist showing off his knowledge of the historiography of King Richard III and the search for his remains in Leicester city centre. 

Alexander-Arnold flying down the right again and tries to pick out Robertson at the back stick, Pereira glances behind for a corner.

50 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Alisson takes a risk trying to fizz a ball into midfield but Liverpool get away with it.  Keita cannot quite gather a ball into his path as Liverpool ventured forward again. 

47 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Robertson on the front foot at the start of this half as Liverpool try to keep Leicester pinned back. That was better from Leicester though, who built down the right and found Tielemans in a pocket of space. Shot from 25 yards deflected behind for a corner. Cleared by Liverpool. 

Teams are back out....

Can Leicester change the pattern of this game. No shots and 0.0 xG in the first 45 minutes.

Leicester's top two passers...

Are Evans and Soyuncu, which tells you where much of that game has been played. Early in the game, Leicester were struggling with giveaways in their own defensive third but as the half wore on they started to kick long and that only saw the ball come straight back at them.

HT: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

All very comfortable for the league leaders. Can we call them the champions elect yet?

45 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Fine work from Gomez again to see off Vardy, this has been the most polished performance I have seen from the young defender for some months. 

44 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Ricardo tried to curl a ball in behind the Liverpool defence for Vardy but Gomez gets up well. Liverpool then play their way out of Leicester's attempt to press and move out of their own half. 

42 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

That was slick combination play from Liverpool, Keita driving through the Leicester midfield before running on to Mane's flick around the corner. Only a heavy touch with his left foot prevented a shot at goal or a possible chance to win a penalty. Liverpool making Leicester look ordinary. 

40 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

That's now 16 assists in 32 Premier League games for Alexander-Arnold. Fine numbers for an attacking midfielder, but astounding for a full-back even in the modern era. 

36 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Maddison chops Henderson down and concedes a free-kick inside his own half. Leicester struggling to sustain attacks or build pressure on the Liverpool goal. All pretty comfortable. In fact, Leicester had not had a single shot on goal. 

'Si Senor....'

34 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 1

Ooooohhh, should be 2-0 to Liverpool who are denied by a Schmeichel starfish save to block Mane's shot from 10 yards out in a central position. Great stop, but Mane should have found the corner. 

GOOOOOAAAAALLLL! Firmino heads Liverpool into the lead

What a deliver from Alexander-Arnold, this time from the inside left position with his right foot. A perfectly flighted inswinger to back post and Firmino is there to squeeze a header past Schmeichel. 

30 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Robertson called into an excellent sliding tackle when the ball looked like running through to Praet. That was a dangerous moment, but Liverpool quickly put their foot on the ball and establish some control. 

Evans follows Firmino out of his centre-back slot but he gets a foot in. Liverpool are there to win the second ball and sustain the attack, but Mane is halted by Evans as he tries to dribble into the area. Unusually, Mane has been the quietest of Liverpool's front three. 

26 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Leicester just starting to work their way into some good positions, but they need to take more care. A few frustrated groans from the crowd as Maddison fails to gather. 

Beautiful feet from Firmino in midfield to attract attention and then spread play into the space on the right. Alexander-Arnold looks for Salah at the back stick but Evans head clears.

23 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Nice dribble from Keita to win a foul from Maddison. He gives Liverpool's midfield more thrust and invention, a really skillful player but cannot stay fit. 

Salah may have had a penalty shout there, but he was flagged offside and rightly so. 

Schmeichel's face says it all

Credit: Reuters

21 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Difficult to assess at the moment - both teams have passages of play when they start to look in control, then the other goes from back to front in double-quick time and looks dangerous. With two fine counter-attacking forces, this game might be decided by making fewer mistakes in possession.

19 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool's turn to have some comfortable possession, and that's a magnificent cross-field ball by Henderson straight to the feet of Salah on the right. Keita almost bursts through, but Liverpool have a corner that presents Leicester with the chance to break...but Gomez matches Barnes for pace and Alisson rushes out to sweep up. 

17 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Really impressive start from Liverpool, who look assertive without the ball and slippery on the counter-attack. 

Maddison just about escapes the attention of Henderson and Keita to spread play to the right, but Liverpool stand firm and defend the cross. 

14 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

This game is far too open for Leicester. Keita this time is able to easily progress the ball to Salah, and Soyuncu just about gets the ball out of his feet before Liverpool pounce. 

Then Henderson sees a deflected shot loop over the angle of post and bar. 

11 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

CHANCE FOR SALAH! But the angle is always against him as he rounds Schmeichel just outside the penalty area. Cannot wrap his left foot around it and finds the side-netting. What a break and Keita started it. 

Leicester thought they were away but Barnes is flagged offside. End to end stuff.

10 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

That was better from Chilwell and Tielemans, keeping the ball under pressure and creating a dangerous position for Leicester higher up the pitch. Liverpool defend well. 

That was neat too from Leicester, who found a pocket of space to the right of Leicester's midfield. Vardy is released down the left and Robertson has to turn bheind for a corner when facing his own goal. Dangerous low cross. Liverpool clear and counter.....

8 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool are swarming all over Leicester in midfield. Rodgers has instilled much more security in possession at Leicester, but they look edgy and unsure of their spacing in the early stages. The result is a lot of giveaways. 

6 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Mane looks for Salah over the top but the ball does not quite drop for him and Schmeichel claims. Leicester then play themselves into trouble, poor from Evans and Wijnaldum pounces on Praet - squares for Salah who was leaning back and shoots over. 

Liverpool have had four or five dangerous moments and we only in the sixth minute. 

4 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

Some interesting detail to chew on with Leicester's set-up - Maddison is starting from the left, Barnes right with Praet and Tielemans in central positions. That will be a game of cat and mouse between Maddison and Alexander-Arnold - will the Liverpool man try and run a natural Number 10 back the way?

Leicester have an early free kick, and good 45 yards out or so on the right flank but Alisson claims. 

2 minutes: Leicester 0 Liverpool 0

We are 35 seconds in and Alexander-Arnold makes sure Schmeichel is on his toes with a swerving shot that is parried away. 

Moments later, the Leicester goalkeeper skews a kick. Salah collects and curls a lovely inverted cross that Mane cannot quite put under his spell. Fast Liverpool start. 


Liverpool get us started, and have three players camped on the left flank. You can see where this is going...Joe Gomez duly pings a diagonal in that direction.

Players are out

Cracking atmosphere at the King Power, and quite the pre-match light show. 

Klopp watching the warm ups as always

Credit: Rex


Praet in for Leicester...

Replaces Ayoze Perez from the game at Manchester City. Praet is more of midfielder who come towards the ball, Perez more of a forward. Rodgers hoping to stiffen things up, and perhaps wants a workhorse to do a job on Andy Robertson on Liverpool's left flank. 

Who wouldn't smile after 30 goals in 28 league games?

Credit: Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers reveals all

What happened to Liverpool in 2014? What is his coaching philosophy? Why did he choose to leave Celtic for Leicester? Rodgers was in candid mood when his former player and our columnist Jamie Carragher went to see him. You can catch up with that exclusive interview here.

"But when you look back it is very young to be going into a job of that magnitude. I felt I was ready to do it. What I have learned as the years go by is like a wine you get better with age. Only when you go into club that size - or even when you go on pre-season with Liverpool – you understand the scale of it. When you get 94,000 people at a game in Australia you see it. It did not frighten me. I wanted to enjoy it."

Liverpool's arrival

Vardy to enjoy another game against a 'Big Six' opponent?

It is from the start of the season, but this exclusive interview with Jamie Vardy by Sam Wallace is worth your time offers real insight into his longevity and unyielding mentality. Here is a taste, on the mistakes he made along the way:

“When I first came into the professional game I wasn’t young but I was living like I was. It was a learning curve. I am glad it happened the way I did because I am here in the situation I am but it’s just one of those things as you get older.”

Not much rotation from Klopp

Wijnaldum replacing the injured Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain is Liverpool's only change from the team that started the Club World Cup final. But when you have the chance to go 13 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand, is there any need to rest players?

Credit: Getty Images

Leicester's team tonight

Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Ndidi, Praet, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Choudhury, Albrighton, Gray, Perez

Liverpool team and subs

A Christmas cracker at the King Power

Is this the day Liverpool seal the Premier League title? It seems ludicrous writing that when it is pitch black outside at 5.26pm, but they can move 13 points clear of the rest - with a game in hand - with a win at Leicester tonight. 

That will not be an easy task however, against a Leicester team who are unbeaten at the King Power Stadium in the league this season as well as the unknowable factor that is Liverpool's World Club Cup exertions in Qatar. 

Jurgen Klopp's team battered Leicester on Expected Goals at Anfield, but needed a dubious stoppage time penalty won by Sadio Mane to take all three points. Leicester's draw at Anfield last season proved costly, so there is evidence Leicester can compete with the European champions. 

Leicester are perhaps not purring as they were six weeks ago, with a stuttering home draw against Norwich and fairly limp surrender at Man City in recent weeks. 

Jamie Vardy is still flying though, and should relish facing a Liverpool defence who have been holding a higher line this season. That said, they are one of the few back fours in the league with the mobility to challenge Vardy in a foot race. 

Rodgers said in the build up to tonight's game: "We have a fantastic resilience and we've shown that in a number of months, but when you lose a game it's always difficult.

"That will happen, it's a case of reflecting on it. We always believe in the process but when there's a bump in the road we never get too down about it.

"We're thinking about bringing a performance to the game which can get us three points."

Liverpool are without Fabinho, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain through injury. James Maddison will be hoping to find space behind Liverpool's midfield in Fabinho's absence.

Full team news shortly.