Liverpool nevertheless path Manchester City on the top of the desk by means of nine factors, but have a recreation in hand at the champions to come back and were wonderful in securing a fifth consecutive win. With Mohamed Salah left on the bench from the start after his labor on the Africa Cup of Nations and Sadio Mane still celebrating his fulfillment with Senegal, Jota took centre degree to hold his fantastic season.
The Portuguese produced predatory finishes as he smashed home a free ball from near variety to open the scoring inside the first half before firing into the a long way nook 3 minutes from time to take his tally for the marketing campaign to 17 desires. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers returned to Anfield below pressure to turn around the Foxes' floundering season after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Championship facet Nottingham Forest within the FA Cup on Sunday.
Rodgers made a statement along with his team selection with some of first-group regulars omitted, such as Youri Tielemans, who had captained Leicester on the weekend. In the absence of Salah and Mane, Jurgen Klopp exceeded a primary Liverpool begin to January signing Luis Diaz. Salah's missed penalty in a 1-zero defeat to a depleted Leicester on December 28 performed a prime element in allowing City to tug clear at the pinnacle of the desk as Liverpool took two factors from three video games over the festive period.
Diaz's direct walking caught the eye, but the Reds were struggling for the step forward until Leicester's weak point from set pieces was uncovered for the opener. Virgil Van Dijk shrugged off the eye of Wilfried Ndidi and after his header was parried by using Kasper Schmeichel, Jota changed into in the right place to destroy domestic.
Klopp added Salah to a huge reception on the hour mark and the Egyptian must have made the factors safe whilst he raced smooth through on aim most effective to be denied by way of Schmeichel spreading himself to block. Salah then hit the bar with a lovely strike from a narrow angle before Diaz stung the hands of Schmeichel again.
The Dane even got a hand to Jota's effective attempt, however couldn't preserve it out as Liverpool's dominance ultimately told with a second intention.
