Liverpool beat closest challenger Leicester City on Boxing Day by 4-0 with the reds coming away to King Power stadium. Nineteen weeks in and Liverpool are yet to lose a game, are 13 points ahead of Leicester and have a game in hand. Both Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp to and Brendan Rodgers have these to say at the end of the match.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said;
“I am happy about that. I appreciate it because I do not take it for granted and the boys have to do it every three days. We had big chances at the start of the game, did not score with them but stayed in the game and controlled it.
“It is was difficult for Leicester to get into the game, both teams felt the intensity of the season but we controlled it more and maybe Leicester were not as aggressive, maybe because of us and our positioning. We scored a first goal, super, super, cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino can score from that situation.
“We struggled a bit with their build-up in the second half and we won the balls immediately and then scored the second goal, then the boys were flying. It looked really nice.
“1-0 is not even a result, it was a moment and it could have been difficult when they had set-piece but that is OK, I don’t expect a game like this to have a free run because they have so much quality and the season Leicester have had. We were very concentrated and the goals were absolutely nice and an important day for us.”
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said;
“We played our last two games against two of arguably the best teams in the history of the Premier League.
“We didn’t have enough patience in the first half. We never secured the ball which meant we had to defend for long periods really.
“The players gave everything. It’s a great learning game for us. Credit to Liverpool they played well.
“We just didn’t have long enough periods with the ball. When you don’t against a top team – world champions – it becomes difficult for you.
“We are at the halfway point now. We are 19 games in. It is the bigger picture with these guys. We have come a long way in this period. The players have been brilliant and this is another learning game for them, they see the physicality you need to compete.
“People were trying to put us in a race with Liverpool but we know where we are.”
With the huge gap between Manchester City and Liverpool and Leicester losing two in a roll, the Champions League holders are poised to break a 30-year jinx and finally clinch that elusive 19th Premier League title.
Shall we then say that the reds are champions-elect?