Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool host Premier League table toppers Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. Liverpool have not won in their previous three league games, and find themselves ninth in the Premier League standings while the high-flying Foxes have won six of their last seven fixtures and are slowly creeping out of sight in the points table.
The Reds lost 3-0 to Watford in the last game, while Leicester City won 3-2 at Goodison Park. Needless to say, Liverpool will have to be at their best and can’t afford to take Claudio Ranieri’s team lightly. Another defeat for Liverpool could make it very difficult for the Reds to challenge for a Top 4 finish this season and Jurgen Klopp will now be looking to start getting the results.
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Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD4
Live Stream: starsports.com
Date and Time: Saturday, 26 December 2015 – 20:30 IST (15:00 BST)
Venue: Anfield
Team News
Liverpool have several players out injured going into the festive season. Klopp confirmed Daniel Sturridge has returned to training but is still, at least, a week away from playing again. Martin Skrtel was injured in the last game against Watford and is ruled out for at least six weeks while James Milner is yet to recover from his calf injury.
Dejan Lovren has returned to full training and is expected to replace Skrtel in the starting XI. Joe Gomez and Danny Ings are long-term injury concerns and won’t feature in the matchday squad while Jon Flanagan might take another couple of weeks to be declared match fit.
Christian Benteke might return to the starting XI while the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are expected to start as well. Lucas Leiva is likely to be dropped after a poor performance against Leicester City which means Emre Can and Jordan Henderson are expected to start in the midfield.
Leicester City don’t have as many injury concerns as their opponents, but Danny Drinkwater is likely to miss the Merseyside trip due to a hamstring injury which also kept him out against Everton last week. Robert Huth is back from suspension and is expected to replace Marcin Wasilewski at the back. Jeff Schlupp remains out for at least another month due to a hamstring injury.
Probable Lineups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Emre Can, Henderson; Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana; Benteke
Leicester City(4-4-2): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Inler, Kante, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy
Form
Liverpool have won just one of their last five games, and it seems they have lost their momentum after a brilliant start under Klopp. They haven’t won in their last four games in all competitions, the last win coming against Southampton in the Capital One Cup (6-1 at St.Mary’s). Since then they have lost away to Newcastle United and Watford. The Reds also had to share points away to Sion in the Europa League, and at home against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.
Last 5 matches: W-L-D-D-L (Last match: Watford 3-0 Liverpool)
Leicester City are the team to beat this season. They sit comfortably at the top of the table, two points ahead of Arsenal. They have won 4 of their last 5 games, with the only draw coming against Manchester United at home. They beat both Newcastle United and Swansea with 3-0 margins, won 2-1 away at Chelsea and 3-2 away to Everton to keep the dream run going.
Last 5 matches (All competitions: W-D-W-W-W (Last match: Everton 2-3 Leicester City)
Key Stats
- Liverpool have never lost at Anfield in the Premier League on Boxing Day. The Reds have won five times, while three times the game ended in a draw. Leicester City are one of the three teams to earn a draw at Anfield in 1996.
- Leicester City have won just one of their last 10 fixtures on Boxing Day in top flight.
- Jamie Vardy has been directly involved in goals in his last 15 consecutive Premier League appearances.
- Jurgen Klopp has managed just three wins in his first nine league games while Brendan Rodgers also managed three wins in his eight league games in charge this season.
- Only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (22) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (21) have been involved in more goals than Riyad Mahrez (20) in the top five European leagues so far in 2015/16.
Key Battles
Christian Benteke vs Robert Huth
Belgian international Christian Benteke has managed just 5 goals since his big-money arrival from Aston Villa. The 25-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, and might miss out on the opportunity to establish himself in the starting XI.
After being dropped against Watford in the last game, it is expected he will be recalled against Leicester City and the big number 9 must be itching to prove his manager wrong. If Benteke gets going against Leicester City, Robert Huth will find it very difficult to contain him and will have to be at his best. Huth must make sure he is strong aerially and doesn’t allow Benteke any chance of a free header inside the penalty box.
Riyad Mahrez vs Alberto Moreno
The Algerian winger has probably been the best player in the Premier League this season. Mahrez and Vardy have combined brillaintly to torment defences in the Premier League this season, and it is very likely they will do it again at Anfield.
Alberto Moreno has been Liverpool’s best performer this season alongside Philppe Coutinho but still isn’t that strong defensively. Mahrez can be tricky to defend against with his pace and skills, and can be a problem for any defender. Moreno must make sure he doesn’t leave too much space at the back or give Mahrez too much time on the ball.
Prediction
It is difficult to look past this Leicester City team, who have performed brillaintly so far this season. We expect them to surprise us once again and take away all the three points from Anfield.
Predicted Score: Liverpool 0-2 Leicester City
Betting Odds (bet365)
Liverpool – 19/20
Draw – 29/10
Leicester City – 29/10
