Liverpool vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Wout Faes nets two horror own goals

On Cody Gakpo’s first appearance at Anfield, Liverpool discovered a new scorer. Not the Dutchman, however, who was sat in the stands before his transfer from PSV Eindhoven is ratified and registered, but a far more improbable figure. Sadly for him, Wout Faes’ Anfield bow was an unforgettable occasion.

Mohamed Salah is yet to score twice in a game for Liverpool at Anfield this season. Strangely, Faes has, with twin own goals. He was the inadvertent match-winner for Liverpool, turning a deserved lead for Leicester into a comical defeat. Not since Cardiff’s Danny Malloy in 1959 had an opponent struck twice in a match for Liverpool. The Leicester centre-back had bagged his personal brace by half-time, each in garishly bad fashion. Liverpool know seasons can turn on freakish incidents and, two seasons ago, they might not have qualified for the Champions League but for a goal from their goalkeeper, Alisson. Now Faes’ ludicrous night has the potential to prove a similar turning point.

It was a rare display of haplessness, and not merely because only three players had ever scored two own goals in a Premier League game before. Leicester’s defensive record had been transformed since Faes’ arrival. The summer signing had been a revelation but this was an aberration of an evening.

Elsewhere in the Premier League tonight, West Ham’s dismal season plumbed new depths after they were booed off following a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford.

Goals from Ivan Toney and Josh Dasilva inflicted another damaging loss on David Moyes, whose side have now lost five consecutive Premier League matches.

Boss Moyes last week insisted the Hammers were not in a relegation battle, but he will now surely have to revise that opinion – if results elsewhere go against them over the weekend they could be bottom of the table on New Year’s Day.

Brentford, meanwhile, climbed to ninth, although their evening was soured when Toney left on a stretcher in stoppage time after landing awkwardly.

Liverpool remain sixth in the Premier League table but are now just one point behind Manchester United (5th) and two behind Tottenham (6th).

Leicester meanwhile remain 13th in the table, four points away from the relegation zone.

90+4 mins: Liverpool see out 2022 with a victory at Anfield! It’s their fourth Premier League win in a row and they are back within touching distance of the top four now just two points behind Tottenham.

They really have Wout Faes to thank after his two own goals but it’s just about results for Jurgen Klopp’s men at the minute.

Leicester were spirited and arguably the better team in the first 30 minutes but those two own goals and tactical changes from Klopp made things difficult for them in the second half.

Brendan Rodgers won’t be too disheartened by the Foxes’ performance but he’ll want to convert Leicester’s good spells into league points going forward.

90 mins: There’s going to be four minutes of added time to play. Leicester don’t look particularly threatening but they have pace on the counter and may only need one good chance to secure a point.

87 mins: Teenager Stefan Bajcetic replaces the injured Harvey Elliott and will play the final few minutes of this tense game. He came on and scored against Aston Villa earlier in the week, what can he muster tonight?

84 mins: This could be worrying for Liverpool after Harvey Elliott stays down following a heavy challenge. He’s being looked at by the physios who have signalled over to the bench.

In the meantime Trent Alexander-Arnold is replaced with Joe Gomez for the Reds.

81 mins: Save! A hoofed clearance up the pitch bounces over to Wout Faes who’s immediately pounced on by Darwin Nunez. Nunez shoulders the defender off the ball and takes it into the box.

He weaves and twists but can’t get a shot away so decides to lay it off to Mo Salah. Salah gets the ball onto his left-foot and lets fly but Danny Ward leans over to his right and palms it wide of the goal.

78 mins: Chance! That was the opportunity for Darwin Nunez to seal the game for Liverpool. He keeps himself onside before making a fine run behind as Naby Keita chips the ball over the top.

Nunez controls it and dribbles into the box before guiding a side-footed effort over the crossbar!

75 mins: Kelechi Iheanacho comes on for Leicester to replace Ayoze Perez and is almost played in on goal immediately. Liverpool find their wingbacks too high up the pitch as the ball comes to Jamie Vardy dropping deeper.

He flicks an optimistic ball into the space usually occupied by Kostas Tsimikas. Iheanacho sprints over to the ball and curls a low cross into the box but Joel Matip gets there ahead of Harvey Barnes and turns the ball wide.