Behind a Curtis Jones brace, Liverpool entered the King Power Stadium and secured a 3-0 victory over Leicester City on Monday to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Three assists from Mohamed Salah and an outstanding free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold have seen the Reds extend their winning streak to seven consecutive games. The Reds are now just one point behind Manchester United for fourth, but the Red Devils have a game ahead of them that will make them hard to catch if they can win it.
For Leicester City it’s a damaging loss in their quest to move out of the relegation zone, but it’s not yet a loss that will see them drop into the Championship. The Foxes are just two points from safety, but they also showed no struggle to get back into the game after Jones scored his brace in just three minutes. For a team in danger of relegation, it’s not what manager Dean Smith wants to see with two league games left to score just four goals at home. If Everton and Leeds win this weekend and Leicester lose to Newcastle United, they will be officially relegated. They will have to pick something up this weekend to feel confident about their chances.
The Foxes are a club with a lot of talent, but on Monday it was all Liverpool. Jones’ escape is something the midfield has needed and even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, his growth will be something to build on for next season. But Klopp is currently thinking about the now and how the team can take on Manchester United or Newcastle United.
With games against Aston Villa and Southampton still on the schedule, Liverpool are expected to win their next games, while Newcastle and United are struggling. The Red Devils take on Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham, while the Magpies take on Brighton, Leicester and Chelsea.
Liverpool in their rearview mirror gives both clubs something to think about and stranger things have happened than a team dropping points because of pressure. Interestingly, despite being in the bottom half, Chelsea have a lot to say about who will make the top four as players look to impress new manager Mauricio Pochettino with encounters against United and Newcastle.
The Reds can only control their game, but with a chance to finish the season with nine wins in a row, they are doing just that. It’s something to build on for next season, but if a club slips, the Reds could return to a place that didn’t seem possible in January.