Marc Guiu shines, while Tyrique George and Christopher Nkunku leave their mark with standout performances.

LIVERPOOL, England – The whispers are growing louder at Anfield: Liverpool fans are starting to believe. As the final moments ticked down during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Leicester City, chants of “Liverpool, top of the league” rang out from the Kop. The sense that Arne Slot’s team could achieve something extraordinary this season is becoming hard to ignore.

Before kickoff, fans were treated to a nostalgic reminder of the last Boxing Day clash between these two teams. Back in 2019, Liverpool demolished Leicester 4-0 at the King Power Stadium in what Jürgen Klopp once described as his team’s finest Premier League performance. That victory pushed Liverpool 13 points clear at the top, solidifying their path to the title, which they eventually clinched with a staggering 25-point lead despite the pandemic interruptions.

Slot’s Liverpool might not have reached those dizzying heights just yet, but they don’t need to. This season, it’s their rivals who have faltered, allowing Liverpool to set the pace in the title race. Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Everton and Chelsea’s dramatic loss to Fulham handed Liverpool the chance to take firm control of the league – and they did just that, moving seven points clear at the top with a game in hand.

Leicester, however, are no longer the formidable side they were in 2019. Coming into the game with just one win in ten and not having triumphed at Anfield since 2000, they were clear underdogs. Yet, they struck first. Jordan Ayew capitalized on a rare chance, coolly finishing after a slick run from Stephy Mavididi. For a moment, Slot’s pre-match warning about underestimating opponents seemed prophetic.

Liverpool, undeterred, kept piling on the pressure. Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah hit the woodwork as the hosts searched for an equalizer. But the fluid attacking play seen against Tottenham just days earlier wasn’t quite clicking.

Then, Cody Gakpo provided the spark. On the stroke of halftime, he curled a stunning effort into the net, leveling the score and reigniting Liverpool’s momentum. Early in the second half, Curtis Jones completed the comeback, slotting home after a perfectly placed pass from Alexis Mac Allister. A lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal, and the Kop erupted, serenading their team with a festive rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Liverpool’s dominance grew, and Salah added a third late on with a trademark finish, securing all three points and reinforcing his importance as the team’s talisman. His contract situation looms over the club, but for now, he continues to dazzle.

After the match, Slot remained calm, insisting the team must stay focused. “So many games to play,” he reminded reporters. But for the fans, the dream of lifting the Premier League trophy again feels tantalizingly close.

While being top at Christmas doesn’t guarantee success, Liverpool’s position looks increasingly secure. They weren’t at their very best against Leicester, but they found a way – and that, perhaps, is the hallmark of champions.