Leicester relegated as Liverpool move to edge of Premier League glory

Trent Alexander-Arnold, returning from injury, delivered the decisive blow with a stunning strike, igniting wild celebrations among the travelling Reds fans. The win leaves Liverpool just one victory away from clinching the championship, with Tottenham next in their sights.

Despite Arsenal's earlier win over Ipswich delaying Liverpool's title celebrations, the Reds showed their intent from the outset.

Mohamed Salah struck both posts inside the opening three minutes, setting the tone for a dominant display. Leicester, however, refused to roll over. Stephy Mavididi tormented Liverpool's Conor Bradley, creating a chance for Wilfred Ndidi, whose effort also rattled the woodwork.

Mads Hermansen, Leicester's standout performer, denied Salah and Ibrahima Konate, while Conor Coady's last-ditch defending kept the Foxes in the fight.

The second half saw Liverpool pile on the pressure. Dominik Szoboszlai tested Hermansen from distance, Luis Diaz fired over, and Cody Gakpo was thwarted by a combination of Pereira and the Leicester goalkeeper.

Leicester thought they had stolen a lead when Coady bundled the ball home, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Alisson Becker by Patson Daka. Moments later, Alexander-Arnold seized his moment, smashing a set-piece into the net before ripping off his shirt in front of the ecstatic away end.

The strike extended Liverpool's run of 13 wins in their last 16 meetings with Leicester, who now hold an unwanted record of nine consecutive home Premier League games without scoring.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his side's resilience, particularly highlighting their set-piece prowess. "We dominated, as you'd expect, but credit to Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester, who tried to play football," Slot said.

"We missed big chances today, which is unusual for us, but Trent's goal from a set-piece was a massive moment. We've worked hard on those for months, and it paid off when we needed it most."

Slot also saluted the travelling supporters, who chanted "we're gonna win the league" at full-time. "The fans were sensational," he said. "They want the title, and we're focused on delivering it. Tottenham are next, and with their players returning from injury, they'll have our full attention."

Recent posts on X from Liverpool's official account echoed Slot's confidence, with a clip of Alexander-Arnold's goal captioned, "Trent's back and he's delivering!  #PremierLeague." Leicester's account, meanwhile, expressed disappointment but vowed to fight in the Championship, stating, "A tough day, but our journey continues. Thank you, Foxes fans.  #LCFC."

With the title within touching distance, Liverpool are now preparing for a pivotal clash against Tottenham. Slot revealed his squad would enjoy a brief break before refocusing. "The players have a day or two off to spend with their families," he said. "Then it's all about preparing for Spurs. We're ready to finish the job."

For Leicester, relegation marks the end of a challenging campaign, but their spirited display showed signs of promise under Van Nistelrooy. Liverpool, meanwhile, are on the brink of history, with Alexander-Arnold's thunderbolt lighting the way.