Leicester 0-1 Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold strikes Liverpool to within a win of title and Leicester into Championship
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the substitutes bench to send Liverpool to victory over Leicester City that confirmed the home side's relegation.
It was a strike of the left boot that was full-blooded and contained so much emotion. Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench and sent a ferocious shot that claimed victory for Liverpool and took them to within one win of the Premier League title.
The full back ripped off his shirt, ran towards the giddy away following and lapped up the adulation. It was certainly a moment and it had to be him, scoring on his 150th appearance after four games out, who provided it against Leicester City.
Alexander-Arnold may be on his way out of his boyhood club at the end of the season but the ferocity of his strike in the 76th minute and the manner in which he celebrated it only underlined that he is still focused on fighting for the cause of his current team.
Real Madrid may be calling for Alexander-Arnold this summer and if the 26-year-old is to leave then he will have this goal to remember as an appropriate parting gift.
It meant that Arne Slot’s team can claim the title at home to Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday, should Arsenal not lose against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. What an atmosphere Anfield promises. It would be their first league title triumph in front of supporters for 35 years. Their 20th overall.
And, so, whilst one club’s dream campaign nears its inevitable conclusion, another’s nightmarish campaign reached its certain ending on this Easter Sunday.
Leicester’s immediate return to the Championship has been on the cards for some time and a 23rd league defeat of the season confirmed what has been coming for a while. They have left with a whimper, a 16th defeat from 18 league games.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s struggling team broke a top-flight record by going nine consecutive games without scoring with this defeat. Remarkably, it is 133 days since Bobby Decordova-Reid scored Leicester’s last league goal at the King Power Stadium.
It is a sorry record but their last two home games being against the fellow condemned clubs of Ipswich Town and Southampton may at least give them the chance to finish with something to at least celebrate.
Story of the game
Before kick-off all eyes had been on the concourse televisions showing the action from Portman Road, but Arsenal’s comfortable 4-0 win over Ipswich meant Liverpool’s trip to the East Midlands would not quite signal the final act of this title race.
Ending an eight-game losing and goalless run last weekend with a 2-2 draw away at Brighton & Hove Albion had provided the smallest of encouragements to Leicester and their first-half display against the champions-elect was one of their better home showings.
Despite the visitors serving an early warning by striking the woodwork inside three minutes, Van Nistelrooy’s team managed to hold their own and even produce a similar strike of their own.
Luis Diaz, playing through the middle, received the ball on the edge of the area and cut a pass in for Mohamed Salah who rolled a shot that hit the inside of one post and then the other before being cleared.
At the other end, Wilfred Ndidi fired a low drive that left Alisson stationary. But Liverpool showed their ability to go from back to front with a swift move that ended with Mats Hermansen’s one-handed save denying Salah.
Liverpool settled into a period of non-threatening possession. This could have been the crowning week, with the announcement of Virgil van Dijk’s new two-year deal bringing further positive news for the supporters, and had the title been at stake the visitors would surely have played with more impetus.
A Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick kicking up off the turf was an easy gather for the Leicester goalkeeper, as was Ibrahima Konate’s free header from a corner. And, yet, Hermansen had to stretch to tip over Cody Gakpo’s cross-cum-shot that appeared destined for the top corner.
But then came Liverpool’s winning goal with 14 minutes remaining. A corner swept in from the left could have been bundled in by Van Dijk, Salah and substitute Diogo Jota but, after Leicester could only half clear, Alexander-Arnold smashed a shot that Hermansen couldn’t keep out.
Saliba no doubt.
He’s younger, has plenty more to give. He’s up there with VVD or there abouts. (Nearly)
He will become the best defender in the world in thee next few seasons.
If Trent is leaving, I guess this was the perfect way to sum up his Liverpool career. He has always been a “Love me or hate me” type of player and tonight he once again silenced the ones that booed him. What a moment! Thank you TrentTrent has given everything to the club and has helped them win everything. A lot of the comments here are ridiculous. I hope he stays but if he leaves having spent the majority of his football career at Liverpool then good luck to him. A legend beyond his years. Life is about making memories and I’ve so many thanks to him. Corner taken quickly…..Origi YNWA
So it’s Saliba for me. VVD sure is quality but Saliba pips it cause of his age. He will only get better than he already is.celebrations showed how much it meant to the visitors, they can look forward to next weekend when things could most definitely be wrapped up on home turf. For Leicester, it signalled the final nail in the coffin of a season to forget.
He didn’t hang it, one of his team mates did.
That celebration was real, there was anger in his eyes, and defiance, which he can not be blamed for the way some fans have turned on him, but there was also pride and pure happiness Sometimes I watch Liverpool play and I wonder,,,,do they have balling Coach,,, they can't prepare the game and attack,,,,they just run up and down,,,,a good team holds the ball,,,beat the opponents midfield,,,,dominate it and head to the defense,,,,pass the ball to confuse the defenders pull them out and then find a space and strike,,, I wish I could have a breakthrough so that one day I'll someone how to play footbal.
It’s so simple but they make so many things complicated or they are just not interested in you so they don’t put forth the effort.
I want my hair washed, a massage, feet rubbed, tell me how much I mean to you, spend the entire day with me and make me a priority for 24 hours…..all of these things without me having to say something about it. I don’t think anyone ever studied me like I did them or even knew my love language. Hell, if they did they never showed it.
Letting go is way better than holding onto a toxic relationship I had this guy who never wanted to let me go l tried as much telling him it can never work. What l did was to lie to him that l slept with another man it was hard for me but it worked
A Woman’s Soul Narcissistic behavior. It wasn't worth losing my sanity, my well being. It weighs heavily and I had to choose me over the emotion of the love that was promised that would have never come...
"She left and regained her peaceful state of being"
I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to let go, but know that you're not alone and that staying in a toxic relationship can be even more draining in the long run. Remember that you deserve all the love and respect in the world!
A Woman’s Soul literally been dealing with this for 4 years now. Still can’t have a conversation about his behavior and what I want out of the relationship with it getting turned on me. It really is draining. Hate to give up on this but it’s like talking in circles.A Woman’s Soul literally been dealing with this for 4 years now. Still can’t have a conversation about his behavior and what I want out of the relationship with it getting turned on me. It really is draining. Hate to give up on this but it’s like talking in circles.
Not once has he said he is going, or that he wants to go! He put the shirt back on! That is what people should take from his actions!