Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to fire home the winner as Liverpool moved a step closer to the Premier League title with a 1-0 victory at Leicester in a result that confirmed the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship.
Arsenal earlier denied Liverpool the opportunity to be crowned Premier League champions on Easter Sunday with a 4-0 victory against 10-player Ipswich at Portman Road.
But even if Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in midweek, Liverpool will be crowned champions of England for a record-equalling 20th time with a win against Tottenham Hotspur on April 27, live on Sky Sports.
With the game heading towards a goalless draw, Alexander-Arnold was thrown on to make his return from injury – and he only needed five minutes to make his mark.
Mohamed Salah hit the post and Diogo Jota rattled the crossbar in a goalmouth scramble, before the ball was cleared for Alexander-Arnold to lash home Liverpool’s 76th-minute winner and then whip his shirt off to celebrate in front of a raucous away end.
Liverpool almost got off to a dream start when Salah was slipped through by Luis Diaz after just three minutes, but the Egypt international’s curled effort hit the far post and trickled across Mads Hermansen’s goal-line before hitting the other post and bouncing out.
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Wilfred Ndidi hit the post then Mohamed Salah was denied by a smart save
Stephy Mavididi then teed up Wilfred Ndidi, who hit the post at the other end in a rare threatening moment for Leicester in the first half.
Salah and Cody Gakpo both spurned several chances to put the visitors ahead, and it was Ibrahima Konate who went closest to scoring before half-time. The defender latched on to an Alexis Mac Allister corner, forcing Ndidi to make a desperate clearance to divert a goalbound header away.
Liverpool played with more urgency in the second half. Hermansen parried Dominik Szoboszlai’s shot away, before making a sprawling save to deny Kostas Tsimikas.
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Conor Coady’s header was ruled out for a push on Alisson
Leicester were somehow still in it and managed to get the ball in the back of the net but Coady’s header was disallowed by the referee for a foul by Patson Daka on Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool threw on Jota, Harvey Elliott and Alexander-Arnold in the second half, and it was the latter – who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer – who made all the difference, rifling through a sea of bodies to spark mass scenes of celebration.
Liverpool could now win the title without kicking a ball, but only if Arsenal fail to beat Palace.
Trent: We’re so close to the title now
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Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winner for Liverpool against Leicester
Trent Alexander-Arnold to Sky Sports:
“We are so close now. It was an important game for me coming back from injury, I’ve been working hard to get fit.
“I was happy to contribute with the goal – it was a big one.
“I’m sure it’s my first left-footed goal of my career, so it’s taken a few years but I got there in the end. That’s the one type of goal I’ve been missing, but I saved it for the right time. We’re one win away now and to do it with fans here is very special.
Alexander-Arnold is mobbed by his team-mates after giving Liverpool the lead at Leicester
“[Virgil van Dijk] pushed me to the front to soak it in to get close and personal – the away fans are amazing. They’ve pushed us every game. They helped us win the game. As much as we do it for ourselves and our families we do it for the fans. They’re the ones that spend the money and travel to games, it’s the least they deserve.
“To be so close to winning a league title – a first one in front of fans which what were missing – is very special.”