Liverpool vs. Leicester: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
When Leicester City last arrived at Anfield, they found themselves bottom of the Premier League table. That was on New Year's Day 2015, when the Foxes held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw.
Almost a year on and Leicester arrive at Anfield sitting top of the tree at Christmas. It's an incredible achievement for Claudio Ranieri's side, no matter how the second half of the season plays out.
Sitting top of the league at Christmas is something Liverpool fans have experienced recently, although on the three occasions the Reds have managed it—in 1996/97, 2008/09 and 2013/14—they've gone on to finish fourth, second and second.
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"We are like Forrest Gump," remarked Ranieri in his pre-match press conference, asking, "Why can't we continue to run, run, run?"
It's a fair point, and while the Foxes have the in-form Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, they have every right to think their impressive form can continue. Liverpool will need to stop the duo to stand any chance of upsetting the odds on Boxing Day.
Ranieri has managed against Liverpool on 11 occasions previously, twice with Valencia and seven times as Chelsea boss. His record reads won four, lost four, drawn three.
Leicester are seeking their first win at Anfield since 2000, when Tony Cottee and Phil Gilchrist inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the hosts.
Date: Saturday, 26 December, 2015
Time: 3 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. ET
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)
Live Stream: NBCSN Live Extra (U.S.)
Form Lines
Liverpool are without a win in their last four games in all competitions, and haven't won a league game since narrowly beating Swansea City in late November. The Reds produced a horror show last time out against Watford, going down 3-0—the worst performance since Jurgen Klopp took charge of the club.
Leicester meanwhile haven't tasted defeat since late September against Arsenal. The Foxes return to Merseyside for the second week running, having picked up three points against Everton last time out.
Liverpool
Lost 3-0 vs. Watford
Drew 2-2 vs. West Bromwich Albion
Drew 0-0 vs. FC Sion (Europa League)
Lost 2-0 vs. Newcastle United
Won 6-1 vs. Southampton (League Cup)
Leicester
Won 3-2 vs. Everton
Won 2-1 vs. Chelsea
Won 3-0 vs. Swansea City
Drew 1-1 vs. Man United
Won 3-0 vs. Newcastle United
Team News
Liverpool continue to struggle with injuries. In the last 10 days they've seen James Milner, Simon Mignolet and Martin Skrtel all pick up injuries, with Skrtel ruled out for around six weeks.
Klopp does have some good news with Mignolet and Dejan Lovren back available from injuries, meaning Lovren will replace Skrtel alongside Mamadou Sakho in defence—who himself has only just returned from injury too.
Milner remains sidelined with a calf problem, and while Daniel Sturridge is training, he won't be available as Klopp seeks to give him a mini pre-season before he plays again.
Up front, Klopp must decide between keeping with Roberto Firmino—who was extremely anonymous against Watford—or hand either Christian Benteke or Divock Origi a start.
Predicted Lineups
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Lallana, Benteke.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, King, Albrighton, Vardy, Ulloa.
Players to Watch
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
It's been an up and down year for Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder, who has enjoyed some memorable moments and stunning goals, but who has also been an anonymous figure in games such as the Watford defeat last time out.
Coutinho won Liverpool's November player of the month award, despite only playing twice, and his form for the Reds dictates the team's overall form. When Coutinho plays well, Liverpool play well. His last good performance was in the 4-1 win at Manchester City in November. Much like Liverpool's. Still recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of three games recently, Coutinho needs to start hitting some form over the festive fixtures.
Leicester: N'Golo Kante
While Vardy and Mahrez have taken the headlines this season—hitting 28 league goals between them, which is eight more than the whole Liverpool squad—midfielder N’Golo Kante has been the unsung hero of Ranieri's side.
Breaking up play in the middle of the park, the Frenchman has protected the defence expertly and allowed the attacking players to surge forward knowing he's holding the fort. Kante is exactly the sort of player Liverpool are missing in midfield.
Key Battle: Vardy and Mahrez vs. Liverpool Defence
Liverpool's defence has returned to its less than sound foundations recently, especially with the poor showing against Watford—where the Hornets front-two of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo bullied them too easily. "They just didn’t fancy the fight," commented Deeney post-match.
Without Skrtel, Klopp will need the new-look partnership of Sakho and Lovren—which was tested in the Europa League game against Rubin Kazan in November—to find from the off.
How the centre-back duo perform against Leicester's dangermen will be key to this game, and also how Alberto Moreno matches up against Mahrez out wide. Moreno's defensive ability has often been questioned in his first 18 months at Liverpool, and this will be a big test for the Spaniard.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Liverpool: -103
Leicester: +300
Draw: +290
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Leicester
