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Diogo Jota has scored 17 goals for Liverpool this seasonDiogo Jota scored twice as Liverpool cut the deficit on Premier League leaders Manchester City to nine points with a dominant performance against Leicester at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's side had a host of chances and reliable Portuguese forward Jota netted in each half, pouncing on Kasper Schmeichel's parry from Virgil van Dijk's header for the first, before stroking a second late on.
The Reds still have a game in hand on champions City and another commanding display suggests the title race may not yet be a foregone conclusion.
Foxes goalkeeper Schmeichel was in inspired form and made crucial saves to twice deny Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz on his full debut.
Mohamed Salah came off the bench in the second half after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty and he too was unable to find a way past Schmeichel. When he did, a sublime curling strike rattled the crossbar.
Leicester will rue the missed opportunity from James Maddison at 0-0 as the Englishman found space down the left edge of the area but his rising shot was pushed over the bar by Alisson.
Leicester's poor season sees them stay in 12th place in the table, 10 points adrift of a Europa Conference League spot.
Reds show their strength in depth
Liverpool's season was going to be derailed once Salah and Sadio Mane went off to the Africa Cup of Nations - well that was the theory anyway. But it has not materialised that way.
Klopp's side are growing in confidence and swatted aside Leicester with ease to stretch their run to just one defeat in their last 19 games in all competitions - ironically a loss at the Foxes on 28 December.
Reaching the Carabao Cup Final, still in both the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as sitting second in the top flight, Liverpool remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies.
And the options available to Klopp now mean an already fearsome attacking line is further bolstered by the arrival of Diaz, who was making his first start for the club.
The former Porto man showed good touches in the final third and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet in front of the Kop, seeing a swerving shot and close-range drive batted out by Schmeichel.
If the Colombian needs any inspiration from a new signing at Liverpool, he needs to look no further than Jota, who has now scored 17 goals in all competitions this season.
Arriving from Wolves for a hefty £45m at the start of last season, Jota's goalscoring performances are not only highlighting the depth of the team, but giving Klopp a good headache of who to select in the front three.
Salah was on the bench this time after his run to the Afcon final with Egypt, beaten by team-mate Mane's Senegal on penalties, and introduced in the second half. On another day he might have had a hat-trick but a shot at the near post and one-on-one effort was kept out by the impressive Leicester goalkeeper, as well as hitting the woodwork with another classy attempt.
More to follow.
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Liverpool
Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Squad number32Player nameMatip
Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
Squad number26Player nameRobertson- Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
- Squad number3Player nameFabinho
- Squad number17Player nameJones
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino- Squad number23Player nameDíaz
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah- Squad number18Player nameMinamino
- Squad number67Player nameElliott
Leicester City
Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Squad number2Player nameJustin
Squad number18Player nameAmartey
Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Squad number33Player nameThomas
Squad number42Player nameSoumaré
Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall
Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Squad number37Player nameLookman
Squad number29Player nameDaka
Squad number7Player nameBarnes
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 6Thiago Alcántara
- 3Fabinho
- 17JonesSubstituted forElliottat 59'minutes
- 20Jota
- 9FirminoBooked at 50minsSubstituted forSalahat 60'minutes
- 23DíazSubstituted forMinaminoat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 7Milner
- 8Keïta
- 11Salah
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Minamino
- 21Tsimikas
- 62Kelleher
- 67Elliott
Leicester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 2Justin
- 18Amartey
- 25Ndidi
- 33Thomas
- 42SoumaréSubstituted forTielemansat 60'minutes
- 22Dewsbury-Hall
- 11Albrighton
- 10Maddison
- 37LookmanSubstituted forBarnesat 79'minutes
- 29DakaSubstituted forIheanachoat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü
- 7Barnes
- 8Tielemans
- 12Ward
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Choudhury
- 21Ricardo Pereira
- 23Vestergaard
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 2, Leicester City 0.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Leicester City 0.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Offside, Liverpool. Andrew Robertson tries a through ball, but Mohamed Salah is caught offside.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
Substitution, Liverpool. Takumi Minamino replaces Luis Díaz.
Foul by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Liverpool 2, Leicester City 0. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joel Matip.
Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andrew Robertson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Wilfred Ndidi.
Offside, Leicester City. Harvey Barnes tries a through ball, but James Maddison is caught offside.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Wilfred Ndidi.
Attempt saved. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Harvey Barnes.
Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
Substitution, Leicester City. Harvey Barnes replaces Ademola Lookman.
Attempt saved. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Harvey Elliott.
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