James Milner was delighted to see Liverpool show 'a different side' in battling to three points against Leicester City at Anfield.

The Reds came into this afternoon's fixture full of confidence having beaten Swansea City 5-0 on Boxing Day, but fell behind after just three minutes as Jamie Vardy ruthlessly punished a loose pass.

Mohamed Salah's brace turned the scoreline on its head in the second half, but the visitors refused to lie down, subjecting Jürgen Klopp's side to an aerial barrage aimed at Islam Slimani and Shinji Okazaki as time wore on.

And it is the manner in which the hosts dealt with that threat that made the three points particularly pleasing for Milner.

"We showed a different side today, which is pleasing, obviously," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"You've seen it enough this year where we're attacking teams and playing good football but there are games in the Premier League where you have to dig in, grind it out.

"It was never going to be a free-flowing game. They're a good side, they're well organised, they've got some great defenders and a really good attitude as well so it was always going to be tough.

"But we kept patient, kept playing the right way, didn't get anxious, kept doing the right things and got the rewards.

"That's obviously taken a lot of effort today and showing that other side, the defensive side, the steel [against] long throw-ins, [like] Raggy [Klavan] with the late header and clearances from the six-yard box.

"You need that all through the season [and] especially this time of year; it's cold and windy and not that easy.

"[So we're] delighted with that result today, because it's a different sort of result to that we have been getting."

LFCTV GO: Watch the best of the Leicester clash

Liverpool's hectic festive schedule continues with a second game in just 48 hours when they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Monday.

Milner insists he would be happy to see another 'ugly' win in Lancashire, with points, not style, the priority during such a busy period.

"The amount of games, it's so important that you get results this time of year," he added.

"The league table changes so much because there are so many games in a short space of time so win at all costs, it doesn't matter how the results come.

"You want to play nice football and win 3-0 or 4-0, keep a clean sheet, and everyone say you've had a really good performance.

"But ultimately, nobody really cares as long as you get the three points, especially this time of year and we want to keep this momentum going."

The No.7 also took time to praise the Reds' goalscorer Salah.

In netting twice against Leicester, the Egyptian took his tally for the campaign to 23 - the most any Reds player has scored in a season prior to New Year.

Milner continued: "It's so impressive, what he's been doing and keeps doing. We have to keep giving him them chances and hopefully he'll keep putting them away.

"He's been brilliant for us [but] it's all the boys up there as well, he couldn't do it without [them].

"Bobby does so much unselfish work and is getting his goals as well, Phil putting the balls through, Sadio as well.

"We're lucky to have such good players but hopefully with Mo he can keep providing the goods."