Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy admits Liverpool have a “great chance” of winning the Premier League. The Reds came from behind to beat the Foxes 3-1 at Anfield on Boxing Day evening to open up a seven-point lead at the summit with a game in hand.
Jordan Ayew had given Leicester a shock early lead before Cody Gakpo equalised on the stroke of half-time. Curtis Jones put Liverpool ahead four minutes into the second half and Mohamed Salah made the game safe with eight minutes remaining.
And Van Nistelrooy, who won the title as a player with Manchester United, believes the Reds are starting to have the look of potential champions.
“You never know in the Premier League and many things have happened before, but looking at this team and how stable they are and the depth of their squad they have a great chance,” he said.
“We were in the contest for a long time. The 3-1 was the turning point in the sense the game was done there for us to get a result. In the 60th minute I remember a chance for Patson Daka to score the equaliser.
“We were in the game to get a surprising result. We knew it was going to be very tough and it was. We did well, we did what we could. We had a good start with the goal but at 3-1 the game was done.”
Van Nistelrooy praised the reaction of Danny Ward after dropping the former Liverpool goalkeeper in favour of Premier League debutant Jakub Stolarczyk after he had been the target for abuse during Leicester’s 3-0 home defeat to Wolves at the weekend.
“The change in goal was one to make,” he added. “The conversation with Wardy was impressive. I have to share with you the way he was thinking of the team, the club and the performance of his team-mates.
“I was impressed with him. I insisted on the conversation. The person and professional he is, I was impressed with him.
“It was really tough what happened with him. We are professionals but we are human beings as well. When frustration is being directed at one person in particular, that’s tough on someone.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy makes major Liverpool admission as ‘tough’ Leicester conversation explained
Ruud van Nistelrooy was speaking after Liverpool’s Premier League match with Leicester City at Anfield
Sport
Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer
03:00, 27 Dec 2024
Ruud van Nistelrooy after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC at Anfield on December 26, 2024(Image: Photo by Copa/Getty Images)
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy admits Liverpool have a “great chance” of winning the Premier League. The Reds came from behind to beat the Foxes 3-1 at Anfield on Boxing Day evening to open up a seven-point lead at the summit with a game in hand.
Jordan Ayew had given Leicester a shock early lead before Cody Gakpo equalised on the stroke of half-time. Curtis Jones put Liverpool ahead four minutes into the second half and Mohamed Salah made the game safe with eight minutes remaining.
And Van Nistelrooy, who won the title as a player with Manchester United, believes the Reds are starting to have the look of potential champions.
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“You never know in the Premier League and many things have happened before, but looking at this team and how stable they are and the depth of their squad they have a great chance,” he said.
“We were in the contest for a long time. The 3-1 was the turning point in the sense the game was done there for us to get a result. In the 60th minute I remember a chance for Patson Daka to score the equaliser.
“We were in the game to get a surprising result. We knew it was going to be very tough and it was. We did well, we did what we could. We had a good start with the goal but at 3-1 the game was done.”
Van Nistelrooy praised the reaction of Danny Ward after dropping the former Liverpool goalkeeper in favour of Premier League debutant Jakub Stolarczyk after he had been the target for abuse during Leicester’s 3-0 home defeat to Wolves at the weekend.
“The change in goal was one to make,” he added. “The conversation with Wardy was impressive. I have to share with you the way he was thinking of the team, the club and the performance of his team-mates.
“I was impressed with him. I insisted on the conversation. The person and professional he is, I was impressed with him.
“It was really tough what happened with him. We are professionals but we are human beings as well. When frustration is being directed at one person in particular, that’s tough on someone.
“Jakub came in today and did an excellent job. He couldn’t have done better, and it wasn’t just about his saves. He was composed.”
Jamie Vardy, a regular scorer against Liverpool, was absent from the matchday squad for Leicester. And Van Nistelrooy explained: “Jamie had a small injury, he had a couple of knocks over the last week that he picked up. He wasn’t totally fit, so I have him some time to recover. Hopefully he can make it for Sunday (against Manchester City).”
Ruud van Nistelrooy makes major Liverpool admission as ‘tough’ Leicester conversation explained
