Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after coming from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield on Thursday night.
The Foxes, who started the game in the drop zone, put in a fighting display that started with Jordan Ayew firing them into an early lead.
However, goals from Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones either side of half-time turned the game around before Mohamed Salah wrapped it up late on, ensuring the Reds capitalised. Chelsea's draw against Fulham earlier on Boxing Day.
How the game played out
Liverpool seemed to signal their intent when Salah forced a close-range one-goal save just seconds from the first whistle. But it was Leicester who took the lead six minutes later, Ayew turning powerfully to finish inside the area after great work from Stephy Mavididi down the left.
Inevitably, the home side responded by piling on the pressure, but they were creating precious little from a flurry of crosses into the box, with Andy Robertson's header off the post the closest they got.
Leicestermeanwhile, looked lively on the break, and got to a Virgil van Dijk foot-nail playing in Patson Daka for a chance to make it 2-0.
Unfortunately for the Foxes, the pressure began to mount as half-time approached, with Salah hitting the crossbar from inside the box. And Liverpool were level shortly after, Gakpo heading home a trademark curler after cutting down the left.
The Reds then picked up where they left off after the break, with Darwin Nunez missing a golden chance to smash a Ryan Gravenberch cut over the bar. But they were ahead from a similar move moments later, Jones heading home a Mac Allister cutback after a well-worked move down the hosts' right.
To their credit, Leicester held on and they would have been level had Daka not completely missed a left-footed attempt from a cross after a fast break. Meanwhile, LiverpoolThe wait for a game-clinching goal was extended when a Gakpo shot was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check for offside in the build-up.
But they were given breathing room in the final ten minutes as Salah finished low at the far post after dribbling into the box.
Check out the player ratings for Liverpool vs Leicester City here.
Having conceded eight goals in their last three games, Liverpool may have seen this clash with Leicester as a chance to show they are not as porous as they have looked recently. Instead, Alisson Becker was pulling the ball out of his own net with just six minutes on the clock against a team mired in the relegation zone.
The Reds have already kept one clean sheet in their last six games (against Girona) and lack the consistency that characterized their strong start to the season. maybe the imminent return of Ibrahima Konates will help, but Arne Slot will be desperate to find a solution either way.
Jurgen Klopp went so far as to apologize to Cody Gakpo last season for damaging his form by using his positional versatility too much. After the Dutchman scored eight goals in his last 12 appearances in a favored left-back position scoring against Leicester, you could see the former Reds manager had a point.
Gakpo looks a reborn player this season and his recent form means he may even have moved ahead of Luis Diaz in the pecking order on that wing. It's certainly a selection headache that Slott will welcome.
After the 'new manager jump' gave way to heavy defeats against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester fans had every reason to dread this trip to Anfield.
Instead, they will surely be encouraged by a disciplined and hardworking performance that on another day could have earned them at least a share of the points. If the Foxes continue to show this level of togetherness going forward, then they will at least give themselves a chance to pick up further wins.