Liverpool 3-1 Leicester PLAYER RATINGS: Which bulldog-like star made things happen on the ball? Who was too lax for the Foxes’ opener? And who needs one to go in off his BACKSIDE to end his rotten form?

Liverpool survived a very early scare on Boxing Day to cast Leicester aside with a 3-1 victory at Anfield. 

After Jordan Ayew threatened a stunning result just six minutes in with a shock opener, the hosts fought back to restore the parity, finally doing so on the cusp of half-time through Cody Gakpo. 

Within four second half minutes Curtis Jones had given the Reds the lead for the first time in the game, with a brief VAR check confirming the on-field decision. 

With just a goal in the game the result could never truly be certain, or at least not until Mohamed Salah made it 3-1 just eight minutes from time. 

With Chelsea losing to Fulham and Arsenal still to play on Friday, it was a result that sent the Reds seven points clear of the Blues.  

Here, Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE runs through the performances at Anfield on Boxing Day as Liverpool consolidated their position at the top of the table.  

The Foxes had taken the lead after just six minutes and threatened a big upset at Anfield

Mohamed Salah made sure of the points with an 82nd-minute strike to seal an important win

LIVERPOOL – 4-3-3:

Alisson – 6

Could barely see him from up in the media seats such was the severe fog at Anfield. Could do little about Leicester’s opener – and that was their only shot on target.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5

Too lax on Stephy Mavididi for Leicester’s goal but a decent performance otherwise, conducting play from deep. Some crosses went astray but he kept plugging away.

Joe Gomez – 7 (Booked)

Made some big, crunching tackles and kept up a decent run in the side – although him and Van Dijk will want to find their mean streak of clean sheets again after four without one.

Virgil van Dijk – 7

Unlucky to see the ball deflect off his heel for the goal but put in a commanding display thereafter, giving Leicester’s attackers nothing to gain confidence from.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was too lax on Stephy Mavididi for Leicester’s goal but decent otherwise

Virgil van Dijk’s display left nothing for the Leicester attack to draw encouragement from

Andy Robertson – 6.5 (Booked)

Bullied off the ball for Jordan Ayew’s goal and was not strong enough. Put in a decent attacking shift, though, constantly an option down the left. Unlucky to see a header hit the post.

Ryan Gravenberch – 6.5

Often one does not notice Gravenberch but he does so much for the team – constantly running and available for passes.

Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5

A fabulous display from Liverpool’s magic Argentine, a bulldog-like figure in the midfield off the ball and making things happen on it, including two assists – the second a beautiful pass to Jones.

Curtis Jones – 7.5

Marked his 100th league appearance for Liverpool with a goal, popping up in the right place at the right time with a darting late run into the penalty area and nice finish.

Alexis Mac Allister made things happen on the ball in another fabulous display at Anfield

Curtis Jones marked his 100th Premier League appearance with a goal after a darting late run 

Mohamed Salah – 7.5

Felt like he was not going to get his customary goal or assist – even though it was a good night for him – but he finally found the breakthrough on 82 minutes when he curled one into the far corner from the right-hand side of the box. A trademark finish

Cody Gakpo – 8 (MOTM)

Liverpool were sub-par in the first half but Gakpo seemed to be the one looking to make things happen and he did just that on the stroke of half-time with a beautiful, curling finish. Deserved a second but was offside – and also saw a header go just wide.

Darwin Nunez – 5.5

Needs one to go in off his backside with just two goals in the league all season. But Nunez is often the victim of bad luck and that was the case again here.

Substitutes:

Dominik Szoboszlai (for Jones, 77min) (Booked)

Cody Gakpo brightened up a sub-par first half with a goal just before the break, Salah putting the finishing touches on the win late on

Diogo Jota (for Nunez, 77)

Wataru Endo (for Gravenberch, 86)

Kostas Tsimikas (for Robertson, 86)

Harvey Elliott (for Mac Allister, 90+1)

Subs not used: Kelleher, Quansah, Diaz, Elliott, Chiesa.

LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk 6; Justin 7, Coady 6.5 (Okoli 90+5), Vestergaard 6, Kristiansen 6.5; Winks 5 (Skipp 65, 5), Soumare 6; Ayew 7, El Khannous 6 (Buonanotte 65, 5), Mavididi 6.5 (De Cordova-Reid 87); Daka 5.

Subs not used: Iversen, Alves, Choudhury, Edouard, Thomas.

Referee: Darren Bond