Also see How fifth-place finish could see Liverpool qualify for Champions League after upcoming UEFA rule change
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| Image: Jones celebrates his third Premier League goal in four games |
Liverpool stretched their winning run to seven matches with a routine win over relegation-threatened Leicester. Jurgen Klopp's side unbeaten in nine games, with Leicester still two points adrift of safety.
Leicester's relegation fears deepened as Curtis Jones starred in Liverpool's convincing 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Monday Night Football.
Jones struck twice inside four minutes (33, 36) as Jurgen Klopp's side wrestled control of the contest and Leicester threatened another first-half collapse, seven days on from their 5-3 defeat at Fulham.
Top four race after Liverpool win at Leicester
Trent Alexander-Arnold was teed up by Mohamed Salah at a free-kick on the edge of Leicester's penalty area for a brilliant third (71). With a hat-trick of assists for the first time in his Premier League career, Salah ought to have added a fourth as he bent a shot wide with only Daniel Iversen standing in his way.
Leicester reportedly cancelled their end-of-season awards night this week in acknowledgement of the severity of their situation. It is now one win in 14 games for the Foxes, who remain marooned in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety.
Liverpool move to within a point of Manchester United in fourth place having played a game more than their rivals. On Jones, Jamie Carragher said: "We're seeing the best of him right now. He's been a revelation in this attacking midfield role."
Player ratings
Leicester: Iversen (6), Ricardo Pereira (5), Faes (4), Evans (6), Castagne (5), Tielemans (6), Ndidi (5), Soumare (5), Maddison (6), Vardy (5), Barnes (6).
Subs: Souttar (n/a), Daka (6), Thomas (6), Tete (5).
Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (8), Konate (7), Van Dijk (7), Robertson (7), Henderson (7), Fabinho (7), Jones (9), Salah (8), Gakpo (7), Diaz (7).
Subs: Milner (n/a), Elliott (6), Jota (6), Carvalho (n/a)
Player of the match: Curtis Jones.
Team news
Jonny Evans, Wilfred Ndidi and Ricardo Pereira returned for Leicester's crucial game with Liverpool. Defender Evans will make his first Premier League start since October after injury.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson returned with Luis Diaz as Diogo Jota dropped to the bench and Darwin Nunez was missing from the squad.
Sitting two points from safety with three games remaining, the Foxes - who welcomed Jonny Evans for the first time in a starting capacity since October - were desperate for victory, but they were undone with Liverpool's first meaningful attack.
Leeds' 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Saturday added extra pressure on the 2016 champions and dropped them to second bottom in the Premier League - and they crumbled to concede a quickfire second.
Leicester have collected 13 points from losing positions in 2023 - more than any other side. They needed a swift response after the restart but Alisson denied Barnes with a fingertip save.
How fifth-place finish could see Liverpool qualify for Champions League after upcoming UEFA rule change
The current Champions League format will be revamped from the 2024/25 season - and it could have a major impact on Liverpool and other English clubs.
The controversial format will see the competition expand from 32 clubs to 36, with the traditional group stage removed.
Instead, each of the 36 clubs that qualify will each play eight games, with four of those fixtures taking place at home and four away.
The teams who finish between first and eighth in the new league stage will automatically qualify for the last 16 phase. Meanwhile, teams in ninth to 24th places will contest a two-legged play-off to determine the other eight clubs involved in the last 16.
From there, the knockout stage is unchanged from the current format, with the remaining teams doing battle to lift the Champions League trophy.
As well as the new format, meanwhile, there is another significant change set to be implemented by UEFA which could have a significant impact on clubs in England.
New UEFA rule benefits Liverpool and other clubs
Additional slots for the new Champions League will be allocated to the two best-performing European nations over the previous season, using UEFA's co-efficient system.
Furthermore, another slot is given to the fifth-placed nation in UEFA's rankings.
If the new rules were applied for next season, both England and Italy would be granted an additional Champions League place, as clubs from the two nations have performed strongest during the current 2022/23 campaign.
In England's case, therefore, the team who finished in fifth place in the Premier League - currently Liverpool - would be granted a spot in the competition, despite not making it into the top four.
Unfortunately for the Reds, or whichever club places in fifth this season, the extra spot will only be granted based on next season's co-efficient rankings in time for the new format to begin.
But it is certainly a fallback option for clubs who are unable to finish in the top four - as long as English clubs continue to perform well in Europe.
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