Diogo Jota turned home from close range in the 34th minute before slotting home from Matip's pass three minutes from time to seal the win for Liverpool.
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Liverpool defeated Leicester City 2-0 in the Premier League fixture at Anfield on Thursday to keep their slim title hopes alive. Diogo Jota turned home from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had parried away Virgi van Dijk’s header. Late in the match, Jota completed his brace from Joel Matip’s pass. The win helped Jurgen Klopp’s side to within nine points of Leaders Manchester City with a game in hand. The Reds were without Sadio Mane following his late return from the Africa Cup of Nations while Mohamed Salah was named on the bench following Egypt’s defeat to Senegal in Sunday’s final.
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James Maddison exchanged passes with Ademola Lookman before testing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker at the near post. It was the visitors’ only attempt on goal in the entire match. At the other end, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot from inside the box was parried away by Schmeichel.
Liverpool controlled the game and broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Van Dijk’s header from Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick was saved by Schmeichel but Jota pounced on the rebound to put Liverpool ahead. It was the Portuguese forward’s 100th goal in his club career.
From then on, Liverpool looked more confident while going forward. Roberto Firmino played a give and go with Jota before testing Schmeichel from inside the box.
Two minutes after restart, Jota’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was parried away by Schmeichel. Salah’s introduction for Firmino made Klopp’s side more dangerous on the right flank. The Egyptian suffered Africa cup of Nations heartbreak with Sunday’s penalty shootout defeat to Senegal but played like a man with a point to prove on his return to Anfield.
The 29-year-old brilliantly turned away from two defenders before testing Schmeichel at the near post. The Danish keeper was having a busy night as he made an even better save to deny Salah from a one-on-one situation.
Salah then cut inside from the right and attempted a left-footed curler which struck the crossbar. And then Luis Diaz’s powerful half-volley was pushed away by the Dane. Salah played a brilliant through ball to release Diaz on the right side of the box but the Colombian was once again denied by Schmeichel.
Liverpool finally got their second of the night in the 87th minute. Matip played a precise through ball to Jota inside the box and the forward’s effort on the turn ended up in the bottom corner of the goal. Schmeichel got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent the goal.
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