Review

Seventh straight win takes Liverpool one point off top four

15 May 2023

Curtis Jones' brace and Mohamed Salah's hat-trick of assists deepen Leicester's relegation fears

Curtis Jones scored twice as Liverpool cruised to a seventh straight victory, winning 3-0 at Leicester City to move one point off the top four while leaving the Foxes' Premier League status hanging in the balance.

LEI

0-3

LIV

Leicester knew that only a victory against Jurgen Klopp's side would keep their Premier League destiny in their own hands.

But after a promising start, Leicester were overpowered by a resurgent Liverpool.

Jones, who had netted four Premier League goals prior to this match, opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a composed finish from Mohamed Salah's teasing delivery.

Liverpool's opening goal made it 21 consecutive league matches in which the Foxes have failed to keep a clean sheet.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
3	Manchester United MUN	38	+15	75
4	Newcastle United NEW	38	+35	71
5	Liverpool LIV	38	+28	67
6	Brighton & Hove Albion BHA	38	+19	62

The same combination carved Leicester's defence open again only three minutes later, this time Jones took a touch to control Salah's pass before despatching a shot that looped past goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

See: How clubs qualify for Europe

In putting Liverpool 2-0 ahead, Jones became the first English player to net a Premier League brace for the Reds since Adam Lallana at Middlesbrough in December 2016.

Salah's assist was his 55th for Liverpool in the Premier League, moving to third on their all-time list behind Steven Gerrard (93) and Steve McManaman (58).

Leicester went close seven minutes after the break when Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans set up Harvey Barnes, but the latter's curling effort was tipped wide by Alisson.

Salah completed his first-ever hat-trick of assists in a Premier League match, rolling a short free-kick for Trent Alexander-Arnold to curl a sumptuous 25-yarder into the top-right corner for Liverpool's third goal with 19 minutes remaining.

See: Premier League 2022/23 relegation battle

It could have been worse for Dean Smith's Foxes, but the irrepressible Salah clipped an effort wide when through on goal.

Liverpool's first Premier League win at Leicester since December 2019 takes them to 65 points, one behind Manchester United and Newcastle United having played one match more. Leicester are 19th on 30 points, two from safety with two matches remaining.