At 03:45 a.m. Beijing time on February 11, the 24th round of the 2021-2022 Premier League season began to compete, Liverpool sat at Anfield Stadium 2-0 to Win Leicester City, ushering in five consecutive wins in all competitions, in the case of one less game, the league accumulated 51 points to continue to rank second in the table, 9 points behind the top manchester City. Jota scored twice in the 34th and 87th minutes, with substitute Salah squandering two one-handed chances and hitting the goal frame once.
The two clubs have met 117 times in their history, with Liverpool having the upper hand with 50 wins, 26 draws and 41 defeats, but leicester City have only achieved 1 draw and 2 defeats in the last 3 games, of which the two sides have met twice this season, the Reds first drew 3-3 at home to the Blue Foxes in the League Cup, won 5-4 through penalties, and then lost 0-1 in the league. However, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool have won 8 wins and 3 draws in their last 11 matches against Leicester City. Last weekend, both teams played an FA Cup match, with Liverpool beating Cardiff 3-1 at home and winning 5 wins and 2 draws in their last seven matches, while Leicester City were slaughtered 1-4 by Championship club Nottingham Forest and have been unbeaten in their last three regular matches.
In this game, Liverpool captain Henderson was absent due to injury, Mane, who participated in the African Cup final, was late in the squad of the team, while Salah was on the bench, Alexander-Arnold ushered in the 150th Premier League milestone of the Reds' career, new signing Díaz started for the first time with Firmino and Jota to form a forward trident; Leicester City, Castagne, Phonafa, Bertrand, Vardy and Evans were absent due to injury, Madison led the starting lineup, and Dhaka played as a single arrow. In the 6th minute, Alexander-Arnold's free-kick from the right was met by Firmino's header that went high over the crossbar. In the 7th minute, Lukeman crossed in, Madison's left rib burst from the left side of the penalty area and Alisson saved the line, and then Madison's corner kick from the right was crossed and Sumare's header was deflected off target.
In the 13th minute, Justin crossed from the right side of the penalty area, and Lukeman, who grabbed the spot in the middle, kicked the flaw, and Liverpool escaped the disaster. In the 19th minute, Jones chose to do the ball after his shot inside the box was blocked by the defender, Arnold swung past the defender on the right side of the penalty area and fired a powerful shot, and Schmeichel lifted the ball off the crossbar. In the 27th minute, Alexander-Arnold's cross from the right side of the penalty area was met by Robertson, who was trying to shoot at the back post, and the Liverpool left-back was thankful after receiving emergency treatment. In the 33rd minute, Alexander-Arnold's free-kick cross from the front was cleared by the defenders, and Firmino's shot from inside the box was blocked off the line.
In the 34th minute, Liverpool took the lead, Alexander-Arnold crossed from the right corner, Van Dijk's header was saved by Schmeichel, and Jota's small shot from inside the penalty area broke the goal, 1-0! Jota scored consecutive goals to achieve the club's career milestone of 100 goals.
In the 41st minute, Robertson's cross from the left side of the penalty area was knocked out by Schmeichel and Thiago's shot from inside the arc of the penalty area deflected off the left post. In the 42nd minute, Alexander-Arnold scored and Firmino's shot from the top of the arc in the penalty area was deflected by Schmeichel. In the 45th minute, Jota slashed and Firmino's shot from the left side of the penalty spot was saved by Schmeichel. At the end of the first half, Liverpool scored with Jota's shot to take a 1-0 lead over Leicester City into halftime.
The second half was easy to fight again. Less than a minute into the start, Díaz made the ball and Jones' shot from the top of the penalty area was blocked by a defender. In the 48th minute, Robertson passed the ball and Jota's left-sided shot into the far corner of the penalty area was saved by Schmeichel's barely fingertips. In the 50th minute, Firmino was given a yellow card for bringing down Hall. In the 51st minute, Madison's free-kick from the top of the arc of the penalty area was blocked by a wall. In the 52nd minute, Thomas threw the ball from the left side of the field and Madison's shot from the left side of the arc was deflected out of the box. In the 58th minute, Matip passed the ball, Dias broke through the front of the box after a series of straight-off shots were blocked by the defenders, Robertson crossed from the left corner, Van Dijk's header sailed across, jota then shot high over the crossbar.
In the 60th minute, Liverpool replaced Firmino and Jones with Salah and Elliott respectively, while Leicester City replaced Sumare and Dhaka with Tillermans and Isinacho respectively. In the 69th minute, Jota counter-attacked quickly and Diaz's left-sided shot from the edge of the box deflected off the near post. In the 74th minute, Salah broke through continuously after receiving the ball, a one-handed shot from the right side of the penalty area was saved by Schmeichel, Arnold's corner kick from the right was crossed, and Matip's header was deflected off target. In the 75th minute, Hall's return pass was cut off and Salah had a one-handed chance, but the pick-out from the left side of the penalty spot was brilliantly deflected by Schmeichel. In the 78th minute, Elliott passed the ball, Salah's right ribbed shot from the far corner of the penalty area hit the left upright, then Liverpool organized the attack again, Robertson's cross from the left was blocked by the defender, and Diaz's volley from the left side of the arc of the penalty area was saved again by Schmeichel.
Leicester City replaced Lukeman with Barnes in the 79th minute. In the 80th minute, Robertson's inverted triangle pass from the left side of the penalty area was returned and Arnold's arcing shot from the top of the penalty area hit the plane. In the 81st minute, Barnes teleported the ball behind him and Isinacho's left-sided shot from the edge of the box deflected off the near post. In the 82nd minute, Salah's clever pass and Díaz's shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by Schmeichel. In the 86th minute, Robertson's cross from the left corner was met by Van Dijk's header that was deflected off target.
In the 87th minute, Liverpool sealed the victory, Matippu went straight, Jota shot from the penalty spot, Schmeichel was still powerless despite the save, the ball slipped into the net from the left side of the box, 2-0! Jota scored his 12th Premier League goal of the season and his 17th goal in all competitions.
In the 90th minute, Liverpool replaced Díaz with Takumi Minamino. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Salah's shot from the right side of the penalty spot was confiscated by Schmeichel. In the end, Liverpool beat Leicester City 2-0 at home to win five consecutive games in all competitions.
Line-ups for both sides:
Liverpool (4-3-3): 1 Alisson/66-Arnold, 4-Van Dijk, 32-Matip, 26 Robertson/17-Jones (67-Elliot 59'), 3-Fabinho, 6-Thiago/20-Jota, 9-Firmino (11-Salah 60'), 23-Dias (18-Takumi Minano 90')
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): 1-Schmeichel/33-Thomas, 25-Ndidi, 18-Amatai, 2-Justin/22-Hall, 42-Sumalay (8-Tillemans 60')/11-Albreton, 10-Madison, 37-Lukeman (7-Barnes 79')/29 Dhaka (14-Ichinacho 60')