What Arne Slot realized as Liverpool beat Leicester to increase Premier League lead

Arne Slot’s side came from 1-0 down to beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points

Liverpool went seven points at the top of the Premier League after coming from 1-0 down to beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield.

While Jordan Ayew opened the scoring for the Foxes on Boxing Day on six minutes, Liverpool managed to respond through Cody Gakpo right on the stroke of half-time. The Dutchman produced a stunning effort from the edge of the area with a strike Leicester’s Jakub Stolarczyk had no chance of saving.

After the break, Liverpool continued on where they left off, with Curtis Jones putting Arne Slot’s side in front by turning home a cross from Alexis Mac Allister. And then on 82 minutes, Mohamed Salah added a third to wrap things up for Liverpool, who capitalised on a slip up by Chelsea earlier in the day after they lost to Fulham.

The Blues had been trying to close the gap on Liverpool but now find themselves seven points behind the Reds, who also have a game in hand on the other Premier League title challengers. And with that in mind, here are three things Slot learned from the come from behind win over Leicester City at Anfield…

Liverpool are a machine

Under Slot this season, Liverpool have won 22 games now from 26. Put simply, that is a machine like performance from the Reds this term, who look the best team in the Premier League and Europe this term.

What Slot has done in around half a year since replacing Klopp is nothing short of spectacular. Yes, Liverpool were a good side last season, but they were chaotic. Their games were end to end thrillers but they lacked control in some of them.

However, this term, they manage games much better. They went 1-0 down against Leicester and just continued to probe and be positive against the Foxes rather than panic. Of course, it helps they had so much time to do so, but there was no really doubt inside Anfield that Liverpool wouldn’t beat Leicester to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Slot has Liverpool playing brilliantly and he will have been impressed by how his side recovered from an early set back.

Cody Gakpo is a player reborn

Utilised as centre-forward and as an eight in a midfield three under Klopp, Slot’s decision to let Cody Gakpo stay out on the left-wing has been an inspired decision this term.

The Dutch forward looked like he could potentially be sold in the near future after having not really settled on Merseyside but this season has been one of Liverpool’s best performers. He scored a stunning equaliser for Liverpool against Leicester and had it not been for an offside from Darwin Nunez in the second half, he would have had a brace.

Gakpo has now scored 10 goals in all competitions this term and Slot deserves credit for helping to transform him into the player Liverpool thought they had signed from PSV Eindhoven back in 2023.

It’s Liverpool’s title to lose

Chelsea’s defeat to Fulham earlier in the day meant Liverpool knew they needed to beat Leicester to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. While they went 1-0 down, they bounced back in emphatic fashion to win 3-1 against the Foxes, a result which means that after the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal looked to have reeled Slot’s side in over the course of the last few weeks, now no longer matters.

Liverpool capitalised on a slip from Chelsea on Thursday night, and it looks to be their title to lose this season.