Title-chasers Liverpool have slipped to their second Premier League defeat of the season, after substitute Ademola Lookman earned Leicester City a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Wednesday (NZ time).
Liverpool dominated the first half against an injury-hit Leicester and looked set to take a deserved lead when they were awarded a 16th-minute penalty, only for Egyptian Mohamed Salah to see his spot kick saved by home goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The chances kept coming for the visitors, with Sadio Mane blazing over when he should have scored early in the second half.
Liverpool's profligacy proved costly as Lookman fired Leicester in front just before the hour mark, sparking scenes of euphoria at the King Power Stadium.
It was backs to the wall for Leicester after that, but they dug in to secure a win that leaves second-placed Liverpool six points adrift of leaders Manchester City, as Foxes coach Brendan Rodgers got one over on the side he used to manage.
After conceding six at Manchester City on Boxing Day, Leicester's morale-boosting win moved them up to ninth in the standings.
Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Southampton, while West Ham United moved above them into fifth place, after an impressive 4-1 victory at Watford and Norwich City's troubles continued with a 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace.
Antonio Conte became the first manager to go unbeaten in his first seven league games in charge of Spurs but he was left disappointed with a solitary point.
James Ward-Prowse gave the Saints a deserved lead midway through the first half, but the home side found themselves down a man after Mohammed Salisu tripped Heung-min Son to concede a penalty and pick up a second yellow before the break.
Harry Kane converted the spot kick, and the England captain had a superbly taken second ruled out for a narrow offside in the second half.
West Ham hadn't won in three league games and Watford went into the clash after seeing their last two games postponed due to COVID-19 cases.
The Hornets got off to the perfect start when Emmanuel Dennis fired them into a fourth minute lead with a fine left-foot effort from the edge of the box.
But West Ham responded superbly and drew level in the 27th minute with a first-time drive from Tomas Soucek. who connected with a fine pass from Jarrod Bowen.
Two minutes later, Said Benrahma put the visitors ahead, drilling home after Michail Antonio had cut in from the left and slipped the ball into the Algerian's path.
The impressive Bowen had an effort ruled out by VAR but the Hammers did double their advantage through a Mark Noble penalty and substitute Nikola Vlasic completed the rout, slotting home after more good work from Bowen.
Frenchman Odsonne Edouard scored one and created two for Palace, as they easily dealt with Dean Smith's Norwich at Selhurst Park.
The former Celtic forward opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty and then set up Jean-Philippe Mateta for the second.
It was 3-0 shortly before the break when Edouard danced into the box through a crowd before the ball fell to Jeffrey Schlupp, who smashed home.
Reuters.
