Liverpool vs. Leicester City: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Score for EPL Match

Liverpool can lay down a marker for their Premier League ambitions when champions Leicester City visit for a match that will see the biggest attendance in 40 years at Anfield on Saturday. 

The fixture is the Reds’ first home match of the new season and follows redevelopment work to the Main Stand, which means an increase of 8,500 to the capacity. As outlined by the Liverpool website, 54,000 fans are expected for the clash.

It is a matchup between two sides who have started the season in a similar fashion. They both have four points from their opening three matches of the 2016/17 campaign, and Leicester sit ninth to Liverpool’s 11th in the early table.

The corresponding fixture at Anfield last December saw a Christian Benteke goal claim a 1-0 Liverpool win.

In their last match prior to the international break—against Tottenham Hotspur—Jurgen Klopp’s side looked strong in attack, particularly in the first half at White Hart Lane.

The disappointment at only coming away with a point was etched on Klopp's face, and the team will step out at Anfield determined to take any frustration out on Leicester.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Team News

Sadio Mane picked up a knock and was taken off in the 66th minute of Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Namibia.

But the winger is expected to be fit to feature on Saturday, according to Melissa Reddy of Goal.com.

Liverpool fans blog Empire of the Kop reacted in joyous fashion at the injury boost:

The Reds will be missing Ragnar Klavan after the centre-back, who signed from German club Augsburg, aggravated a knee injury while on international duty with Estonia, as reported by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.

With Mamadou Sakho not in contention, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip should continue to form a partnership in central defence.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius is also due back from a broken hand, according to PhysioRoom.com, but he is unlikely to be thrown straight into the No. 1 spot ahead of Simon Mignolet.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, meanwhile, could hand a debut to Algeria international striker Islam Slimani, who signed for a club-record £29 million on transfer deadline day, per BBC Sport.

Slimani moved to Leicester off the back of a season that saw him net 27 goals for Sporting Lisbon.

There is debate about how Slimani will fit into Ranieri’s plans, and according to James Sharpe of the Leicester Mercury, his relationship with Algerian team-mate Riyad Mahrez could prove key to him settling in England: "What [Ranieri] must now do is fit all the jigsaw pieces together. Not just the old ones, but the new ones as well. That's not an easy task, especially when all the existing pieces nestle so neatly alongside each other to form a picture of Ranieri and Wes Morgan lifting the Premier League trophy above their heads."

Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

It would be a bold step by Ranieri to put him straight into the lineup, so he may feature from the bench as he is eased into the Premier League.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had surgery for a hernia and, despite sitting out Denmark’s international commitments, is expected to be fit to take his place between the sticks, according to Coral Barry of Metro.

Here's a look at how the teams may start the match:

	Liverpool		Leicester City
GK	Simon Mignolet	GK	Kasper Schmeichel
DF	Nathaniel Clyne	RB	Danny Simpson
DF	Dejan Lovren	LB	Christian Fuchs
DF	Joel Matip	CB	Wes Morgan
CM	James Milner	CB	Robert Huth
CM	Adam Lallana	LM	Riyad Mahrez
CM	Georginio Wijnaldum	CM	Daniel Amartey
CM	Jordan Henderson	CM	Danny Drinkwater
RM	Sadio Mane	RM	Marc Albrighton
LM	Philippe Coutinho	FW	Shinji Okazaki
FW	Roberto Firmino	FW	Jamie Vardy

In the attacking areas, particularly, Liverpool look to be a fast-improving side, but they have still been prone to lapses and not finishing teams off when they’re on the front foot.

However, Klopp's men will look to press the visitors high up the field and can seize the initiative in front of a packed Anfield crowd who have had to wait since May for their first taste of home Premier League action.

Leicester have not yet appeared to have the organisation and defensive solidity that was an integral part of their stunning title triumph last campaign.

Liverpool have begun the campaign in confident fashion, particularly in the manner in which they attack from wide positions with Philippe Coutinho and Mane. The big occasion should see the Reds rise to take the three points.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Leicester City