James Milner scored a 95th-minute penalty to keep up Liverpool's winning run in extraordinary fashion with a 2-1 win over Leicester.
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| Mo Salah limped off the pitch after taking a heavy tackle on his ankle - photo |
Milner stepped up to send Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot after Sadio Mane was fouled in the Leicester area by Marc Albrighton.
The victory extended Liverpool's winning run to 17 Premier League games.
The hosts had not been firing on all cylinders all afternoon and owed a lot to Milner's brilliant assist to hold a half-time lead, with the veteran's wonderful 50-yard ball outside of Jonny Evans reaching Mane, who then slotted past the onrushing Schmeichel (41).
But substitute Ayoze Perez made an instant impact to turn the game on its head when his low through-ball caught out Virgil van Dijk, and James Maddison took it in his stride before beating Adrian (80).
That looked like earning a share of the spoils until Albrighton lost the ball in his own box and caught the back of Mane's leg, allowing Milner to step up and give Liverpool the latest of late winners from 12 yards. Victory means they equal their longest winning start to a season, matching their eight-match streak in 1990/91.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Adrian (7), Alexander-Arnold (7), Lovren (7), van Dijk (7), Robertson (7), Wijnaldum (7), Milner (9), Fabinho (7), Salah (5), Firmino (6), Mane (7).
Subs: Origi (6), Henderson (6), Lallana (n/a).
Leicester: Schmeichel (7), Pereira (7), Evans (7), Soyuncu (8), Chilwell (7), Tielemans (7), Ndidi (7), Praet (7), Barnes (6), Vardy (6), Maddison (7).
Subs: Albrighton (6), Perez (7), Choudhury (n/a).
What the managers said
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "Super game. After the intense game on Wednesday, playing against the quality of Leicester the football we played for 60 minutes is incredible, but after that the tank was a bit empty.
"We got the penalty, which it was a clear penalty, I stand here and should be only happy because of the way the boys did it but I cannot get over the Choudhury yellow card. I don't get that, really. He should know better. He maybe was unlucky with Ritchie, but he has to calm down."
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought we deserved more. It's very cruel to conceded the penalty so late, I'm not sure it was clean and obvious, but very proud of the team we're playing against the European champions, a team so strong, especially at home.
"I think that going into the box, Sadio was probably making sure he made the most of the contact, and the referee's given it on feel. It's hard for the guys in the studio to overrule that. I think if it wasn't given no-one would've given too much of it. We had to do better in that moment too, those little details can cost you a point or three points."
Opta stats
Courtesy of their victory over Tottenham, Brighton ended a run of eight Premier League home games without a win (D3 L5).
Tottenham have lost 17 games in all competitions in 2019, more than any other top-flight side.
Brighton equalled their biggest-ever margin of victory in a top-flight game and scored more than once in a Premier League home game for the first time in 16 games, since beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in December 2018.
Tottenham have conceded 10 goals across their last two games in all competitions for the first time since December 1997 (1-6 loss to Chelsea, 0-4 loss to Coventry).
At 2 mins 30 secs, Neal Maupay's opener for Brighton was their fastest-ever goal in the Premier League.
Man of the match: James Milner
Milner is like a fine wine. He just gets better with age. In many ways it wasn't a big call for him to take the captain's armband and Jordan Henderson to stay on the bench, given Liverpool's recent run of games, but you just wonder when his age is finally going to catch up with him.
Not today though. He should've scored in the first half before wrapping a beautiful ball down the line for Mane to net the opener.
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