On this dayRemember when... Boxing Day brilliance at Leicester City
Newly crowned world champions, in fact. And, soon, Premier League champions.
Just five days after lifting the Club World Cup for the first time in Liverpool FC history, the Reds were on their travels again. December 26, 2019. Destination: second-placed Leicester City.
There had been little time to bask in the achievements of conquering the globe, barely a brief moment for a spot of turkey and stuffing before Boxing Day arrived, headlined by a heavyweight bout at King Power Stadium.
Jürgen Klopp’s men made the journey to the East Midlands in astonishing form: 17 Premier League matches played, 16 won, one drawn, zero lost. A 10-point lead at the summit.
But 120 energy-sapping minutes had been required to topple Flamengo for the right to be world champions, and Leicester were flying too – with 12 victories from 17 and only 11 goals conceded.
Some questioned if this was the moment when Liverpool’s sprint towards the title might finally hit a bump in the road.
They had every answer.
A swirling peach of a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross allowed Roberto Firmino to flick in a header from close range and open the scoring 31 minutes in.
James Milner caressed home a penalty with his first touch as a second-half substitute and from there the Reds moved into devastating overdrive, carving through their opponents via that Alexander-Arnold-Firmino connection again for 3-0.
The cake’s icing was still to come, though. Alexander-Arnold zoomed up the right flank to meet a Sadio Mane pass with a delightful, low drive that was still making itself comfortable in the bottom left corner as the No.66 arced away to celebrate with the travelling Kop.
A late Christmas gift. A performance of champions.
NewsAlisson Becker on progress under Arne Slot, improvement and once playing in midfield
AcademyU21s match report: Nallo, Morton and Young net as Liverpool win 3-0 at Arsenal
Enter nowCompetition: Win a copy of EA SPORTS FC 25 signed by Jota and Mac Allister
VideoWatch the Liverpool squad react to their EA SPORTS FC 25 ratings
GalleryTraining photos: LFC Women prepare for trip to West Ham in the WSL