Trent Alexander-Arnold's late strike edges Liverpool closer to title and sends Leicester down

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates scoring his side's winner. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Leicester City 0 Liverpool 1

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late finish edged Liverpool a step closer to the Premier League title and condemned Leicester City to relegation in the process.

The substitute’s fourth goal of the season means Arne Slot’s champions-elect are now 13 points ahead of Arsenal with only five games remaining ahead of next weekend’s assignment against Tottenham Hotspur. while the Gunners host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, who started the afternoon knowing only a win would prolong their battle against the drop, had earlier been denied the lead when Conor Coady saw an effort controversially ruled-out. 

Soon after, possibly netting for the final time in Liverpool colours before an anticipated summer move to Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold pounced following a scramble in the area.

Predictably, given his recent exploits and City’s brittle confidence, Mo Salah wasted no time whatsoever imposing his authority on the contest. Having seen a shot hit one post and then the other during a frantic opening, the Egyptian then drew a fine save from Mads Hermansen before seeing another attempt deflected onto the roof of the net.

But it was to City’s credit that, amid the havoc being created by Liverpool’s talisman, they also came close to breaking the deadlock when Wilfred Ndidi, combining with Stephy Mavididi, also struck an upright.

Van Nistelrooy, not to mention Slot, must have been surprised by the level of resistance the visitors were being faced with. Ndidi’s near post drive apart, Alisson remained a spectator.

However, displaying the kind of character which could have made the campaign a much more profitable experience, City prevented Liverpool from turning possession into a deluge of goals.

Salah continued his solo assault on the hosts’ rearguard, seeing a stooping header gathered by Hermansen before turning a Kostas Tsimikas’ cross wide.

City made it to the interval without conceding which, given the situation they found themselves in ahead of kick-off, could legitimately be viewed as an achievement of sorts. The pattern of the fixture did not change, however, until the 76th minute.

Dominik Szoboszlai forced Hermansen to parry immediately after the restart before Cody Gakpo saw a powerful drive blocked by a defender.

That profligacy should have cost Liverpool midway through the second period when only the softest of soft refereeing decisions denied Coady the opener against his former club. Stuart Attwell deemed Patson Daka had impeded Alisson before he spilled a high ball into the box.

The City substitute only appeared to be holding his ground but Coady, who wheeled away after heading into an empty net, saw his celebrations cut short.

With less than a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Alexander-Arnold thrashed home following a skirmish which had seen both Salah and Diogo Jota hit the uprights.

Leicester City: M Hermansen; R Pereira (J Justin 83), W Faes, C Coady, L Thomas; W Ndidi (O Skipp 83), B Soumare; B De Cordova-Reid (F Buonanotte 61), B El Khannouss, S Mavididi (J Monga 84); J Vardy (P Daka 61).

Subs not used: J Stolarczyk, C Okoli, V Kristiansen, J Ayew.

Liverpool: Alisson; C Bradley (T Alexander-Arnold 71), I Konate, V van Dijk, K Tsimikas; R Gravenberch, A McAllister; M Salah, D Szoboszlai (H Elliott 71), L Diaz (C Jones 90); C Gakpo (D Jota 60).

Subs not used: C Kelleher, W Endo, D Nunez, A Robertson, J Quansah.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).