Key events
An email comes in from Luis, “from Liverpool but in Portugal”. “And both United play against Chelsea,” he says. “Now Liverpool’s CL fate lies in Frankie’s hands.”
Curtis Jones talks to Sky. One of his best games? “Definitely.” The day before every game, he says, he has a shooting competition with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho. “The standard is very high.”
Alexander-Arnold is by his side now. “He has a level now that he needs to hit every game.” Played like a boss, sounds like a manager.
The consequences for the top four
Liverpool remain fifth but are one step closer to the Champions League places. Their run of seven wins has taken them up to 65 points from 36 matches, one behind both Man United and Newcastle. Liverpool’s goal difference rises to 28, four behind Newcastle and no less than 18 up on Man U. But Liverpool have played 36 games to the others’ 35, so both United can see them off by winning two of their last three games. Newcastle’s next two games are at home, where they are very strong – against Brighton and … Leicester.
The branches at the bottom
Leicester remain in 19th place, with 30 points from 36 games – one point behind Leeds (31), who are a point behind Everton (32), who are two behind Forest (34). They have all played 36 games, so Leicester and Leeds have 180 minutes to save their skins.
FULL TIME! Leicester 0-3 Liverpool
That was it, no respite for Leicester. They conceded five goals on Monday and now it’s eight in eight days. Liverpoolwho was far too good, completes his seventh victory on the trot.
90+2 min The player of the match is Curtis Jones. The cameras find him on the bench roaring with laughter, as he can.
90+1 min Three minutes will be added. There could be 30 and poor old Leicester still wouldn’t have a nose.
89 min Smith sends on Harry Souttar for Jonny Evans, whose return went from happy to miserable in four minutes.
88 min Now Salah leaves, to be replaced by Harvey Elliott. In it Liverpool box, Vardy clears an overhead kick.
“Comments on the good night for Leeds Everton and Forest,” says Russell Richardson. “It’s a great night for West Ham, who now cannot be relegated (unless Leeds overturn an 11-goal deficit in just 2 games).” Good place! I rather assumed they were already safe. Liverpool are making all sorts of people happy tonight. You never work alone.
86 min Leicester’s remaining supporters come alive as Konate is booked for a foul on Maddison. The free kick, taken by Maddison himself, meanders harmlessly to Allison.
83 min The latest player to leave the fray is Curtis Jones. His only rival for man of the match will be Mo Salah, who has his first PL hat-trick with an assist. Jones’ place is taken by Fabio Carvalho.
81 min Liverpool knocking on it now, so I can catch up on some correspondence. “Think this is a good time,” says Espen Bommen, “to point out that no matter how many goals Curtis Jones scores today, or in his career, nothing will ever come close to what he did when we knocked Everton out out of the match. The FA Cup with our U-12s. Ha.
78 min Leicester come in Liverpool box but, as usual, nothing comes of it. Liverpool cross up at the other end, Salah is clean – and he misses!
76 min And Mo Salah hasn’t scored a goal yet. He sniffs one now, but Faes produces a textbook tackle.
75 min As some Leicester fans trickle out, Klopp makes a few changes. On comes James Milner, for Henderson, and Diogo Jota, for Diaz. Luke Thomas is also on for Leicester, in place of Pereira.
73 min So Liverpool are on course for 65 points, one behind Newcastle and Man United, who both have a game in hand. At the other end, this looks like a good night for Leeds, Everton and Forest.
71 min It was one of those rolled free kicks. Alexander-Arnold ran at it as if he already knew it was going into the far corner. At this point, Daniel Iversen might prefer it if I got his name wrong.
GOAL! Leicester 0-3 Liverpool (Alexander-Arnold 70)
A screamer! And a nail in Leicester’s coffin.
68 min Henderson wins a free-kick just outside the area, beyond Evans, who is most indignant.
“Danny Ward’s not playing tonight,” says Bert Fill. “He’s actually not even on the bench! Daniel Iversen is the (un)lucky man picked to play in Leicester’s goal. Ah sorry. As a father of a Dan myself I should have done better.
66 min A chant rings around the ground and it seems to be about Roberto Firmino, who is in the stands with Darwin Nunez. That brings a smile to Firmino’s, not that it takes much to do.
64 min Leicester manage a moment of possession but Maddison, just looking foul near the box, foxes himself and gives the ball away.
62 min The cameras find Gareth Southgate and his Scotland counterpart, Steve Clarke, who might be wondering if Curtis Jones has a Scottish grandmother.
61 min Yes, it’s Daka and Tete who are coming. Smith sacrifices Barnes and Ndidi.
60 minutes Alexander-Arnold plays a wonderful long ball, first-time, on the half-turn, to Salah, but his layoff to Henderson only results in a less-than-successful pass across the bar.
58 min Dean Smith lines up some subs – Daka and maybe Tete.
57 min Diaz is riding high on Maddison and could well join Pereira in the book, but Craig Pawson doesn’t see it that way.
55 min Another glimpse for Vardy, quickly snuffed out by Konate.
54 min Liverpool turns the corner into a counter and Pereira gets a yellow for the team. Salah has a chance but balloons it. Leicester fans dig deep and muster some jeers.
52 min Leicester have a chance! Harvey Barnes coaxes a good one from D, handled around the post by Alisson.
48 min Slight technical error here – sorry. Alexander-Arnold floats a long ball forward and Danny Ward almost gets himself into trouble, gets for the header and misses.
The man of the moment.
Curtis Jones’ first half numbers against Leicester:
88% pass accuracy
47 touches
36 passes completed
2/2 ground duels won
2 goals
1/1 tackles won
1/1 dribbles completed
1/1 long balls done
1 key passScored an exceptional second goal. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/nIifXwUGGS
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 15, 2023
“If Gakpo leaves that chance,” says Tom Barneby, “Jones was right behind him and would have had a shout for the fastest ever hat-trick.”
“Tim, greetings from California.” Mary Waltz, we’ve been waiting for you. “A die-hard Everton fan looking for Liverpool. That is the pathetic state we have been reduced to.” Have.
“Even though I’m a closet Klopp fan, it’s still hard to root for the Reds. Most of my California the elite series friends are fans of the traditional top 6 squads and I eat constant crow as a bottom-feeding everton fan. Still, go Liverpool, do your best and help save us from relegation.”
HALFTIME! Leicester 0-2 Liverpool
What started as a two-half minigame turned into a tale of two goals, both scored by Curtis Jones. He scores with his left, he scores with his right. He had only collected four PL goals before this, but apparently it’s not his first game – he managed one at Lincoln in the League Cup. Deadly in the East Midlands.
Jones’ efforts have left Leicester on the brink. They actually started well, with James Maddison showing his class and creativity. But now they need a miracle, and Dean Smith hasn’t been a miracle worker so far.
45+2 min We have four extra minutes. Leicester get the ball over the halfway line, twice, but only by lifting it, so Liverpool take possession again.
45 min The free kick is cleared though Liverpool come again with Henderson off right. His movement is about 10pc pace, 90pc determination. Leicester look away from the danger but they look defeated. Vardy, who started strongly, has had four touches.
44 min Leicester can’t get hold of the ball. Now Gakpo wins a free kick when Soumare commits a silly foul 25 yards out.
41 min Robertson appears in the box, spins and shoots wide but he is offside. That save a couple of minutes ago was from Gakpo by the way.
40 min A third of Curtis Jones’ goals in his PL career have come tonight.
39 min Leicester are threatening to concede a third! Mayhem in their box and a good save from (I think) Salah.
This one stands too!
Wout Faes in this match is Curtis Jones.
GOAL! Leicester 0-2 Liverpool (Jones 36)
Jones keeps up with himself! With a more spectacular finish from the edge of the box. But once again the crosshairs emerge…
35 min The move had started with Alisson going wide to Diaz, the player who might have been an inch offside.
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