Leicester v Liverpool Preview by Simon Mack

Leicester City vs Liverpool

26^th December 2019 8pm

King Power Stadium

The top two in the Premier League go head to head Boxing Day night as the foxes look to close the 10 point gap to the top of the table.

Visitors Liverpool have been down in Qatar of late and 2 victories in the FIFA World Club Cup saw them lift the trophy with a laboured extra time victory over Brazilian giants Flamengo. Meanwhile for their hosts the recent run of incredible league form has taken a pause with a draw at home to Norwich and recent defeat at the Etihad to 3^rd place Manchester City, and despite a cracking penalty cup win against Everton sandwiched in between if the foxes are going to get their league hopes back on track this ‘clash of the league titans’ is crucial to keep in touch with the top placed team.

Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League this season with 16 wins and 1 draw from their 17 games to date as despite having to field an under 19 squad for their recent Carabao Cup ¼ final clash with Aston Villa due to their World Club Cup commitments are in imperious form already having lifted the aforementioned trophy on Saturday and the UEFA Super Cup to boot. Their league clash with West Ham scheduled for last weekend was postponed due to their World Club Cup demands so the reds have a game in hand on their suitors, and despite even Brendan Rodgers alluding publically to the complete ignorance in the media to the foxes title challenge Jurgen Klopp and his men are certain to take their host’s capabilities deadly seriously despite some potential weary souls amongst their ranks having had a long trip sandwiched right into the most congested time in the English domestic honours calendar.

For Liverpool Joel Matip remains on the physio’s table having suffered a knee injury earlier in the season and Croat centre half Dejan Lovren is also out of action with thigh trouble. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain limped out of the World Club Cup final with ankle issues and despite his manager’s upbeat prognosis is not expected to be fit for this one either. Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho is also out having suffered ankle ligament damage back in November against Napoli and the reds squad is being tested as the fixture demands just keep on coming.

For the foxes manager Brandan Rodgers this is the 2^nd time his current charges have played his former club in the league this season last time out at Anfield a late and debatable penalty saw the reds chalk up the narrowest of victories against their top of the table rivals, and in his pre match press conference Rodgers expressed his desire to see his side return to their ‘true game’ against the league leaders having felt his side were below par at the weekend against Manchester City. The Northern Irishmen alluded to his side’s lofty league place and commended his team to date for their achievement, but he knows if his foxes play to their potential there is every chance of a result against the league leaders in this late Boxing Day showdown and reiterated that he had not discussed with the players any title talk at all.

Leicester currently sit 11 points clear of 5^th place and Champions League football looks a genuine possibility for next season and maintaining that will surely be a huge goal of Rodgers and men. The city boss seems hugely close to his charges as always and the bubble they inhabit together is always the game at hand rather than the bigger picture and Rodgers will never be drawn by a journalist from that zone.  The city boss gave detail on Harvey Barnes who was clattered up at the Etihad on Saturday by sky blues keeper Ederson as he attempted to meet Vamie Jardy’s cross. Barnes has been receiving treatment for the issue and Rodgers suggested there might be a chance of the young wide man featuring in the colossal Boxing Day clash. Apart from that no new injury news to report for the foxes, and whilst there has been some chatter around Jamie Vardy being rested at some point over the festive period you can bet your house the talismanic number 9 will be fit and raring to go for this massive match.

Liverpool will arrive at King Power Stadium on a high from their World Club Cup success story of late but it remains to be seen if that euphoria will carry them through or whether the long trip and extra time requirements has physically tired them. For Leicester Rodgers will be hungry to see the very best of his superbly talented side and a return to a level of performance that he alluded to being missing at the weekend against Manchester City.

With a smaller nucleus of players to call on the fast paced nature of this time of the season makes Rodger’s decisions in selection and tactics in games such as this vital. The city gaffer has been superb in both areas this season to date and all foxes fans will be hoping he gets it spot on once again and the chilly late evening Boxing Day trip home is filled with talk of a victory.

 A Merry Christmas to you all.

Leicester possible line up: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Ndidi, Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Praet, Vardy

Liverpool possible line up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mané