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Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 games by doing the league double over Leicester.
The visiting side took the lead early on after capitalising on a poor pass by Joel Matip. Barring that, the Reds looked in total control and carved out several chances but went into halftime with a goal deficit.
Following the break, the Liverpool onslaught continued and unsurprisingly Mohamed Salah who scored both goals for Liverpool to secure all three points. Also, in typical Salah fashion, he missed a couple of simple chances before scoring a brace.
For a large part of the game, it looked like Leicester looked like they would go home with at least a point but the Mo Salah juggernaut hoped the home side stay in the top 4.
#5 Mohamed Salah in a league of his own
Who would have thought that Mohamed Salah would be playing as well as he is now? Most Liverpool fans would have been happy if the Egyptian scored 20 goals overall but halfway through the season, Salah has 23 goals in all competitions and 17 in the Premier League.
He has five assists also to his name which takes his total involvement in goals to 22, more than any other player.
No Liverpool player has scored more goals before New Year since 1961-62. Not even Suarez, Torres, Owen, Rush or Fowler.
To put things into perspective, Eden Hazard has never scored more than 19 goals in a season for Chelsea. Salah can double that rally if he keeps up his current form.
#4 End of the Vardy-Mahrez combo?
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were two of the most important players during Leicester’s title-winning season and their partnership and understanding was a joy to see.
Against Liverpool, Vardy scored yet again and unsurprisingly the assist was from Mahrez.
However, there are serious questions about the future of the Algerian at the King Power. He wanted to move in the summer with Roma keen on signing him as Mohamed Salah’s replacement but a move never materialised.
Now, it looks like he will get his move in January with Chelsea rumoured to be keen on signing him. Mahrez is not cup-tied in the Champions League and hence, several top clubs would be keen on signing him.
Liverpool also have a player rumoured to be on the verge of exit as Philippe Coutinho continues to be linked to Barcelona. If Coutinho leaves in January, should Jurgen Klopp look at Mahrez as a potential replacement?
#3 Who gets dropped for Virgil van Dijk?
A lot of the focus during the game was not on the pitch but in the stands as Liverpool’s record signing, Virgil van Dijk was in attendance.
Klopp has said that the Dutchman will be eased into the squad but it’s clear that the likes of Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan will now have to fight for a place to play alongside the former Southampton man.
Liverpool conceded today following a poor pass from the back from Matip and he has been as poor as Lovren this season. Klavan has by far been the best centre-back for the Reds so far and it wouldn’t be surprising if he starts alongside Van Dijk.
Of course, then there is also the option of the highly rated Joe Gomez. Gomez put in another solid performance against Leicester and many see him as the long-term partner for Van Dijk.
Once Nathaniel Clyne returns from injury, Gomez can be relieved of his full-back duties and paired with Van Dijk.
Jurgen Klopp will soon have a welcome selection headache.
#2 Crucial January for the Foxes
Leicester have looked solid in recent games against both Manchester clubs and in their latest game against Liverpool but they need to find consistency.
The Foxes won four consecutive games under Puel before imploding at home to Crystal Palace during the festive period. They have now lost three of their last four games and picked up a point at Old Trafford.
Leicester will finally be able to use Adrien Silva from January after they failed to finish his registration by a matter of a seconds before the transfer window closed. They would also need other signings as Puel will need certain players to implement his system.
If Riyad Mahrez leaves, then Leicester will need a new attacking midfielder and there are rumours linking them to Hatem Ben Arfa. The former Newcastle star shone under Puel at OGC Nice and already has the Premier League experience.
#1 Liverpool learning to win the hard way
Last season, when Claude Puel was in charge of Southampton, Liverpool failed to beat his side in four games across all competitions and also failed to score in any of those games. Klopp has finally got the better of his nemesis.
Liverpool often struggled to break down teams that defend deep but slowly and steadily they are getting better at it. Although they have dropped points occasionally by drawing games, the Reds are now undefeated in 15 games across all competitions of which 12 are in the Premier League.
With the arrival of Van Dijk, Klopp will be hoping that his team can shore up the defence and see out games like they did at Leicester today. Klopp made defensive substitutions once his team was in the lead by taking off Salah for Wijnaldum and Coutinho for Klavan.
The German’s rotation policy also seems to be working as the players look fresh and up to the task in every game they play.
