Ian Rush scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Leicester City 4–3 at Anfield on 14 February 1987. Twice the champions established a two-goal lead; twice Alan Smith reduced it. Rush’s third, four minutes from time, proved the winner.
Paul Walsh had opened the scoring on the half-hour, but Craig Johnston’s own goal brought Leicester level four minutes later. Rush restored Liverpool’s lead before the interval and scored again two minutes into the second half to make it 3–1.
Leicester stayed in the match. Smith brought them within one goal in the 74th minute, before Kenny Dalglish replaced Steve McMahon. Liverpool’s player-manager joined an attack in which Walsh and Rush would both contribute to the fourth: Walsh supplied the pass for Rush to complete his hat-trick.
Even that was not the end of Leicester’s challenge. Smith scored again in the 88th minute, leaving Liverpool to finish with a single-goal margin despite scoring four themselves.
The victory left Liverpool third in the First Division on 51 points, three behind Everton. Leicester were 19th, their three goals at Anfield bringing no points towards their fight against relegation.