Liverpool recovered from an early Jordan Ayew goal to secure a resounding 3-1 win over Leicester City at Anfield on Thursday night thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, and Mohamed Salah.
The Reds despite an early scare remained composed and calm even though they failed to create clearcut openings, with former Liverpool academy boy Connor Coady and Vestergaard thwarting almost everything thrown at them for the majority of the first half.
Eventually, Liverpool found a way through Cody Gakpo’s trademark curler from the left. The Dutchman was found by Alexis MacAllister’s pass before he cut in and unleashed the strike beyond Jakub Stolarczyk in goal for the Foxes.
The Reds did not look back from there, with two extra goals in the second half. Curtis Jones put Liverpool ahead 2 minutes from restart on his 100 league appearance.
After putting the match to bed with 8 minutes from time, Mohamed Salah took to media duties by sharing his thoughts on the match.
“It’s a good result, to be fair,” Salah told Amazon Prime Video post-match. “They were very tough first half. The second half, the way they prepared themselves before the game they were very good.
“Also, the way they were standing in front of the box was quite hard for us in the first half especially. But we managed to score three goals, so it’s a great result.”
On the timing of Gakpo’s equalizing goal proving crucial ahead of the break, he added: “It was great. It gave us confidence in the second half to go there and try our best also to win the game, because at 1-0 down you just need to focus and equalise and score the second one. But a minute before half-time we scored a great goal. It’s a great result.”
The No. 11 was asked about Cody Gakpo’s trademark curler in the 45th minute to draw Liverpool level. He told the reporter, “It’s something he practiced in training. We all practice in the situation and when we go there we finish the situation or we cross it to the second post. It was a great finish from him.”
Mohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League home goal with Liverpool’s third goal of the night in a much improved and controlled 2nd half. The 82nd-minute goal was his 98th in the league at Anfield, with the other 2 coming at Stamford Bridge during his Chelsea days.
“It’s something I’m very proud of. We keep working hard and hopefully, I can go a little bit further.
The most important thing for me is the team winning. Hopefully, we win the Premier League and I will have a big impact. That’s great for me”, he said about the goal and his current form.
Salah was further asked about his thoughts on Liverpool moving seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and whether leading the league this season feels ‘different’.
“It’s great. We just focus on each game and hopefully, we carry on like that.
It feels different but the important thing is we need to stay humble. We had a few injuries when we were ahead [previously] and we lost it in the end. Hopefully, we carry on like that with no injuries and we go on and win it.”
This one is very special. Hopefully, we win the Premier League for this club – it’s something I dream of. I really want to win the Premier League this year, hopefully.
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