Rampant Liverpool moved 13 points clear at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) after Roberto Firmino struck twice in an emphatic 4-0 win at second-placed Leicester City.
The victory was inspired in large part by attacking right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold who created three goals and scored one himself.
With Firmino deadly in front of goal and Liverpool in total control throughout, it was a performance that suggested the title race is all but over at the half-way stage.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has been vocal in his criticism of his team’s intense schedule but the European champions showed no signs of any adverse influence from their trip to Qatar.
There they had won the Club World Cup.
A trip to Leicester, who went into the game unbeaten at home this season, was the toughest test of the season.
But Klopp’s men passed the test with barely a hint of drama.
It will now take an extraordinary slump for them to fail to win their first title of the Premier League era.
“We played really good football after all the travelling and intense period. Yes, it is the best performance of the season and we controlled it. To get four goals is something to be proud of,” said Alexander-Arnold.
“You don’t really think you will be 13 points clear, but we are happy to be in this position and we won’t take it for granted. This is the Premier League and anything can happen,” he added.
Popping up in the inside-left position, Alexander-Arnold floated a pinpoint cross to the backpost for Brazilian Firmino to head Liverpool into the lead in the 31st minute.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel then produced an outstanding close-range save to foil Sadio Mane and Liverpool would have been disappointed to go in at half-time with only the solitary goal.
Liverpool were utterly dominant but had to wait until the 71st minute to extend their lead when Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick struck the left arm of Caglar Soyuncu.
Substitute James Milner slotted home the penalty kick with his first touch of the ball.
Firmino then made it 3-0, collecting and firing home a powerfully-struck low cross from Alexander-Arnold.
Then the 21-year-old England international rounded off the rout, hammering a low shot into the far, bottom corner at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Liverpool have 52 points from 18 games, with Leicester on 39 points from 19 matches and Manchester City 14 points behind the leaders before their game at Wolves on Sunday.
“It’s one of many successful nights so far this season,” said Milner.
“We are not even halfway. So much can change and happen. The strength of this team is we tale it one game at a time.”(Reuters/NAN)
