Liverpool’s Boxing Day triumph keeps title hopes alive

Liverpool maintained their place at the helm of the English Premier League standings with a 3-1 Boxing Day win over Leicester City at Anfield.

Although the Foxes took a surprise lead in the sixth minute through Ghanaian international Jordan Ayew, the hosts leveled matters right at the stroke of half-time through Dutch forward Cody Gakpo.

Seemingly unshackled after equalizing, the Reds took the lead four minutes after the break through England international Curtis Jones, before the sensational Mohamed Salah put the result beyond doubt with a goal eight minutes from time.

Salah leads the race for the Golden Boot with 16 goals in 17 appearances, while Liverpool have a comfortable seven-point advantage atop the EPL ladder with a game in hand.

Meanwhile, Leicester slipped to the danger zone after back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Speaking after the game, the Liverpool manager was pleased despite conceding early.

“It sounds weird but I thought we had a really good start,” said Arne Slot.

“We were threatening them for six minutes, but then one moment where we underestimated a situation and it immediately led to a chance and a goal and we have to work really hard to come back in the game.”

The Liverpool boss also downplayed their title chances, insisting it’s still early in the season.

He said, “I don’t look at it that way.”

“It’s a bit of a boring answer.

“As a manager, you go game by game because you know how many games you still have to play, and you see, especially in the Premier League, results that you didn’t expect because teams have so much quality.”

The league leaders will be on the road against West Ham United this weekend, with soccer betting odds of -250 for the Reds to defeat the Hammers (+607).

Meanwhile, Leicester will play host to Manchester City in the EPL, and top online betting sites are paying $1.36 for the champions to triumph, with the Foxes at +658.

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