Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late goal sent Liverpool to the precipice of a 20th top-flight title and Leicester City out of the Premier League altogether, the Foxes relegation confirmed by a 1-0 loss to the Reds at King Power Stadium on Sunday.
MORE — Slot, Alexander-Arnold speak on win, title, future
Leicester’s loss leaves them 18 points back ot 17th-place West Ham United with just 15 points available to the Foxes the rest of the way. That means the 2015-16 Premier League champions are one-and-done in the top flight this go-round.
WATCH – Leicester v Liverpool full match replay
Alexander-Arnold, a reported soon-to-be Real Madrid free transfer, entered the game late after a long injury absence and scored his first ever left-footed goal for the Reds in the 76th minute.
Liverpool restore their 13 point-lead over second-place Arsenal with five matches to play this season. The Reds will seal the Premier League title with their next win or Arsenal’s next loss, the latter of which can happen Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium against Crystal Palace.
Sad Leicester City season ends with a fight
The Foxes never quit on midseason hire Ruud van Nistelrooy but they also failed to defend their end well for much of the campaign. It’s easy to point blame at the defenders but the summer transfer period is another point of contact for those wishing to determine where the blame lies for this one-and-done Premier League campaign. Leicester bet big on Oliver Skipp joining fellow Spurs castoff Harry Winks in forming a strong midfield. That did not happen, and Sporting Lisbon signing Abdul Fatawu’s hopes of joining Bilal El Khannouss in setting up Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka as part of a fun attack was undone by Fatawu’s ACL tear. The Foxes’ playmaker had assists in a draw with Spurs and a win over Saints, but his season ended after 11 games. Leicester were 2W-4D-5L at that point and have since gone 2W-2D-18L. It’s not all about one player, but that initial pace under Steve Cooper would’ve played out to 30 points at this point. They’d still be six points off safety — maybe less if they took more points off fellow bottom-half scrappers — but those are all “What ifs?” as Leicester rebuild for another run in the second-tier. It’s hard to stay safe with a 7-game losing streak in any season, and Liverpool sandwiched a 7-gamer and an 8-gamer around a win at Spurs.
Leicester vs Liverpool player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Leicester vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Leicester City go to Wolves at 10am ET Saturday, then Liverpool host Spurs at 11:30 Sunday.
How to watch Leicester City vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: King Power Stadium — Leicester, East Midlands
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Leicester City vs Liverpool final score: 0-1
Trent Alexander-Arnold 76′
Leicester City vs Liverpool live updates
Trent Alexander-Arnold goal — Leicester 0-1 Liverpool (76th minute)
Wow. Narrative-feeding!
Liverpool hit the frame a couple of times and a mad scramble around the 18 fires out to the back post.
That’s where Alexander-Arnold’s left foot lurks, and the controversial figure smashes past otherwise-great Mads Hermansen to put Liverpool within 13 minutes and one more win (or Arsenal loss) of a title.
Alexander-Arnold tears his shirt off in celebration, and celebrates perhaps defiantly at or with the traveling supporters.
Alexander-Arnold gives Liverpool lead v. Leicester
Who else but Trent Alexander-Arnold? The man stealing all the headlines in Liverpool delivers for the Reds to give them a narrow lead over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returns
Some boos mixed in with cheers as Trent Alexander-Arnold returns from injury, subbing in for Conor Bradley. Alexander-Arnold is expected to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, though there’s been nothing more than reports on the matter.
Harvey Elliott also enters, replacing Szoboszlai.
0-0, 71′.
Controversy!
Leicester are deprived a goal as Daka contested Alisson’s aerial collection, bodying the goalkeeper and flicking the ball for Conor Coady to head home from close range.
Goalkeepers are a protected species, but’s very, very tame. The Foxes could easily be in front.
Subs
Diogo Jota replaces Cody Gakpo for Liverpool around the hour mark.
Facundo Buonanotte and Patson Daka enter for Leicester, as Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jamie Vardy exit the pitch.
0-0, 61′
Still zeroes despite Salah
Salah takes the ball away for a quick 1-2 with Luis Diaz, then puts Wout Faes on skates before curling a left-footer wide of the goal.
Halftime — Leicester 0-0 Liverpool
This feels destined for only one outcome, but so far Leicester’s on pace to stay a Premier League team for one more week.
Foxes aiming for halftime
Wilfried Ndidi denies Ibrahima Konate an assist and Mo Salah a goal with a hooked clearance near the goal line.
It’s the 41st minute and Ruud van Nistelrooy would be thrilled to reach the break at nil-nil.
Dominik Szoboszlai pumps free kick to keeper, Salah shot blocked
Liverpool are a bit frustrated as they control this game but haven’t come close to a goal since Salah’s early post.
Now Salah has a volley at the back post but it’s blocked out for a corner. Leicester clear it.
Better in the 29th minute, but still scoreless.
Full head of steam as Salah comes close
Third minute. Mo Salah. Smashed far post.
If indeed this is the intent we’re about to see from the Reds, forget about this game being a tussle.
Leicester City lineup
Hermansen, Pereira, Faes, Coady, Thomas, Ndidi, Soumare, El Khannouss, De Cordova-Reid, Mavididi, Vardy
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Tsimikas, Van Dijk, Konate, Bradley, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz
Leicester City vs Liverpool preview
Arne Slot’s Reds have a 13-point lead on Arsenal heading into the weekend with the Gunners going to Ipswich Town early Sunday. The next combination of two particular results — Liverpool wins or Arsenal losses — guarantees the title belongs to Liverpool.
Leicester knows they are big-time underdogs to beat Liverpool on Sunday, but Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Foxes are on the precipice of relegation and could even be confirmed for the drop ahead of kickoff. Leicester are 17 points back of 17th-place and can only claim 18 points this season, so their next dropped point would seal the deal even if their closest competitors lose all of theirs.
Of course, the Foxes would love any cause for hope of another Premier League season. And a home win over Liverpool would be a delight for their fans in any event.
Leicester City team news, focus
OUT: Harry Winks (club discipline), Abdul Fatawu (knee – out for season)
Liverpool team news, focus
OUT: Joe Gomez (thigh – MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Trent Alexander-Arnold (foot)
Leicester City vs Liverpool prediction
This season marks the end of a decade that began with Leicester City’s stunning run to the Premier League title. It’s crazy to consider that the Foxes will soon be relegated for the second time. We can’t say whether this win will give the Reds the Premier League title, but we can say we expect them to win. Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool.
