THEY play football from another planet.
Nobody, Leicester included, are in the same orbit as the Club World Cup Winners.
Roberto Firmino rose highest to head Liverpool in frontCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
James Milner scored from the spot to make it twoCredit: PA:Empics Sport
This was ruthless.
With two from Roberto Firmino, a James Milner penalty and a beaut on the angle from Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Premier League trophy is on the horizon.
Liverpool, taking the lead when Firmino soared through the night sky after 31 minutes, took one giant leap towards the title last night.
Leicester were blown to smithereens.
These Red shirts, returning to Blighty after beating the best Brazil could offer last Saturday, were rampant.
This latest victory took them 13 clear of Leicester in second and a jaw-dropping 14 ahead of defending champions Manchester City.
Liverpool’s spare – away to West Ham – will not be needed.
They are too strong, taking time away from the opposition with their remorseless, ceaseless running.
Liverpool, with captain Jordan Henderson making his customary demands from the centre of midfield, do not pause for breath.
There is no respite and nowhere to hide when Liverpool are hunting the ball.
Even Leicester’s scoreboard operator leaned towards to the inevitable when it flashed up some first half stats.
They were half an hour in when it pointed out that Leicester were already five-zip down on shots alone.
A minute later, they were a goal down.
Firmino, who scored winners against Monterey in the World Club Cup semi-final and again in the final against Flamengo, turned his hand to domestic duties.
He met Alexander-Arnold’s inswinger from the left, getting the jump on Ben Chilwell to put Liverpool ahead.
It had been coming, to be fair.
They created a steady stream of first half chances, settling in for the night in the final Boxing Day fixture.
There is an aura about them, an invincibility after stretching this impressive unbeaten Premier League run to 35.
Alexander-Arnold was sensational throughout and scored Liverpool’s fourthCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Liverpool are cruising towards the titleCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Nobody can give them a game.
They are so strong in every area of the pitch that they gave Leicester’s players a working over in front of their own fans.
Brendan Rodgers’ team, beaten 3-1 at Manchester City last time out, could not match Liverpool’s intensity.
There is no shame in that.
The long-term problem for the Premier League is the lack of competition over the remaining 20 games.
Liverpool are not going to trip up now.
They have refined this system, working their way through all the options over the past couple of seasons.
Every time Mane, Firmino or Salah are on the ball, you expect something to happen out there.
They create so many chances, with the craft of this front three making decent Premier League defenders look basic.
Jonny Evans, uncharacteristically sending a stray pass into the feet of Mo Salah early doors, was one.
Salah nipped in to collect the ball, wasting the gift when he clipped wildly over Schmeichel’s crossbar.
They were just getting their eye in.
Rodgers, who tweaked his system to give Jamie Vardy some help by playing Harvey Barnes alongside him, scribbled a series of notes on the touchline.
The writing was on the wall.
Barnes struggled, substituted after 58 frustrating minutes and replaced by the wide-man Marc Albrighton.
Vardy, leading scorer in the Premier League with 17, needed one of his trademark balls beyond the defence.
Alexander-Arnold scored one and set up threeCredit: Reuters
Firmino’s two goals helped seal a ruthless victoryCredit: AFP or licensors
When he finally wriggled clear after an hour, his former England team-mate Joe Gomez took him clean out on the edge of the area.
It lifted the place, with Leicester growing in confidence after James Maddison sent the free-kick over Alisson’s crossbar.
They sensed the chance to make it 1-1, but the problem for anybody in the same boat is the presence of big Virgil.
He just seems to be there, blocking, barricading and getting a boot on anything that could be goalbound.
It helped keep Leicester quiet, burning out after a five-minute spell of sustained pressure.
Klopp was busy making changes, sending on Milner for Naby Keita and Divock Origi for a grumpy Salah.
When Caglar Soyuncu handled, Milner assumed position a few yards from the penalty spot.
When he scored, casually beating Schmeichel to put Liverpool two-ahead, there was stilltime for two more.
Firmino got another, stopping Alexander-Arnold’s cross and then lifting it expertly into the top corner.
We need to talk Alexander-Arnold.
What a performance from the right-back, getting the goal his performance deserved after 74 minutes.
He hammered it on the angle, cutting across the ball to beat Schmeichel from the edge of the area.
It was a terrific finish, the sort of strike that this normal lad from Liverpool can be proud of.
He is a big part of the Liverpool machine, a vital element as the 30-plan finally comes together.
Soon enough, their world will be complete.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
