Curtis Jones’ double pushed Leicester to the brink of relegation as Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 win – two years to the day since the Foxes’ FA Cup triumph; Gary Neville believes Jurgen Klopp was sending a message to his Champions League rivals with post-match celebrations
Tuesday 16 May 2023 17:54, UK
Gary Neville believes Newcastle and Manchester United will be sweating over Liverpool's late-season resurgence in the race for Champions League qualification.
Curtis Jones' double pushed Leicester to the brink of relegation as the Merseysiders cruised to a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium - two years to the day since the Foxes' FA Cup triumph.
The midfielder's first-half brace and Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunner eased the visitors to victory as the hosts capitulated to leave them staring at the drop.
That it came on the anniversary of their first ever FA Cup win underlined the 2016 Premier League champions' fall from grace - but Liverpool moved to within a point of Manchester United as their late charge for the top four continued.
Jurgen Klopp celebrated wildly with his travelling supporters at the final whistle with his trademark three first bumps.
His side have won each of their last seven Premier League games, with only Manchester City stringing a longer run of wins together this season (11 currently), while it's the Reds' longest winning streak in the competition in over a year, since a 10-game run between January and April 2022.
Neville told Monday Night Football: "Manchester United and Newcastle still have a job to do. Jurgen Klopp's fist-pump at the end is definitely something that, if you're a Newcastle or a Manchester United player, you recognise as 'he's coming for you'. I think he's sending them a message.
"They are going to have to make sure they do their job properly as Liverpool will win their two games. Manchester United and Newcastle have got to forget the idea that Liverpool are going to drop points, as if they don't do their job they will slip out of the top four."
Since his debut in December 2016, Alexander-Arnold has been directly involved in 65 goals in the Premier League - 12 goals 53 assists - more than any other defender.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: "As a player, he looks re-energised. At times we question whether players are giving everything when results aren't going well. Right now, he looks absolutely over the moon that he's playing in midfield. He looks faster, more energetic and he looks like he's been given a new lease of life."
Liverpool had failed to score in six of their previous eight away games against bottom-half sides. They have now scored 11 goals in their past three games.
Carragher told Sky Sports: "Jurgen Klopp has previously spoken about an overhaul being needed and about getting the team ready for next season. I don't think he envisaged his side would go on such a good run and they're still with an outside chance of getting into the top four.
"There was a point after when Liverpool got knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, and the sense was that they didn't have much to play for, and so they looked to do something a bit different. It's not all about Trent going into midfield. The idea wasn't about just getting Trent into midfield.
"It was a knock-on effect of why Liverpool needed to be better defensively. They've now got the five behind the ball with a three in midfield and a two. Jones has been one of the players who this change in system has really helped. We're seeing the best of him right now.
"He's been a revelation in this attacking midfield role. When you consider the profile of player Liverpool are looking for right now in terms of midfield. A Mason Mount or an Alexis Mac Allister at Brighton. Whether that happens or not, we don't know.
"Liverpool are looking to play with two No 10s right now and we see it with Jones' second goal. I think it's really interesting in terms of the profile of player Liverpool bring in during the summer. We know they're going to bring in two or three midfielders.
"When we talk about when Liverpool won the title - Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho... some of those players are still there, but it was about running and power. What we're seeing now is the twist and the change that Klopp has mentioned. Jones is a player with confidence. Right now, we're seeing his breakthrough moment.
"A couple of seasons ago, we saw him being picked in front of more established players and then last season didn't happen for him due to several reasons including injuries. We've had the same for much of this season, but in the last six or seven games, we've seen that he can be more than a squad player who can push for the first XI.
"He has a pivotal role to play going forward but he has to be more consistent. He sometimes is over-confident and holds onto the ball too much. He's a player Liverpool have who suits playing in between the lines which I don't think a Thiago does if he came back into the team."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp:
"Sensational first goal. Top second goal. We should have scored immediately after. Third goal, what a wonderful routine. Love it. Good win, super important for us.
"We have two difficult games to come. Villa are fighting for Europe. Tonight I'm really happy.
"That's the best free-kick routine we have. We should have scored three like that. Now we can take it direct or roll it both sides so it makes it more likely we score from these situations. We have to use it more often.
"We changed so many things. Now we just have to play a different rhythm."
On their Champions League rivals, Klopp said: "I think they'd have preferred we lose tonight. I would in their shoes. I don't think it's likely but if they slip, we have to be there. Will they slip? I don't know. Will we win both games? I don't know.
"West Ham will be happy. Now David Moyes can prepare the European semi-final."
Leicester boss Dean Smith:
"We concede an awful goal from our point of view. We wanted to play in their half and make their centre-backs run back to goal but one ball beats our back four and then they score another soon after. Then you're chasing a game against a supremely talented team.
"For the first goal there is a lot we can do to deal with it. It's really tough to come back against teams like Liverpool, with the way they keep the ball. Goals change games. Two goals that are marginally onside. We wanted to make a game of it in the second half, we did at times, but the third goal kills the game. It's never a free-kick. Really disappointed.
"I thought the second goal looked like we had frazzled minds from the kick-off. Liverpool want to press and we played straight into their hands. That's where we have to have clearer minds and think clear under pressure. We know what we need to do now."
On the reaction of the home crowd: "The crowd are here to see us try and win football games. They get disappointed when you're two goals down at half-time. You understand that when goals go against you. That is only my third home game and it's the first home defeat we've had. They were magnificent in the first two against Everton and Wolves. No football fan wants to see their team get beat.
"It is a group of really good footballers but we came up against a team that overran us physically today. It's pretty simple. We need to win our next game. It will be tough at St James' Park. It would be nice to take the lead for once."
Liverpool host Aston Villa on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm, before travelling to lowly Southampton on the final day of the season.
Leicester have another Monday Night Football encounter to look forward to when they travel to Newcastle next week, live on Sky Sports, before hosting West Ham on the final day of the season on May 28.
