LIVERPOOL VS LEICESTER: PREVIEW

Liverpool travel to Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City on Tuesday night. This comes barely a week after an under strength Liverpool side knocked The Foxes out of the League Cup on penalties. Leicester meanwhile got thrashed 6-3 at the Etihad this afternoon. We preview the game.

The Foxes are enduring a poor season so far, lying slap bang in midtable whilst being knocked out of the Europa League. Rodgers’ side has been all over the place defensively, keeping just one clean sheet in their last 19 matches in all competitions. They’ve conceded an eye watering 33 league goals already.

Only Newcastle, Norwich and Leeds United have conceded more goals than the Foxes, as their collective and general defending has left a lot to be desired. In this afternoon’s capitulation at the Etihad they went 4-0 down at halftime after giving away two penalties.

They then conceded two goals from set pieces in the second half to ruin a spirited attempt at a comeback after bringing the score to 4-3. They are a very flawed side as Rodgers struggles to get the balance of the team right. Injuries (especially in defence) hasn’t helped but it’s no excuse.

That this rematch against the Reds comes just two days after the sobering afternoon at the hands of Man City poses another challenge for the Foxes. Playing twice in three days is a very nonsensical demand on Premier League teams, especially in a time like this with everything that’s going on.

Liverpool themselves were scheduled to play on the 26th and 28th but can count themselves lucky to have seen their fixture against Leeds postponed. That has given Jürgen Klopp’s men almost a full week between the League Cup quarter final clash and this trip to the King Power.

In fact most of Klopp’s key players would have effectively had a ten day break seeing as the likes of Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Mané were all left out of the Carabao Cup game. The quartet of Van Dijk, Fabinho, Thiago and Jones have all come out of isolation after bouts with Covid too.

It is a near full strength team available to the manager, and crucially they are all well rested. We saw what a ten day break did for Antonio Conte’s Spurs last week, as they set a frenetic pace in terms of workrate from the first whistle and maintained it throughout.

Liverpool are in good form as they are unbeaten in their last ten matches. They will fancy their chances against a porous Leicester defence despite the Foxes having the home advantage. Brendan Rodgers did hold Jamie Vardy back for today’s defeat.

The veteran striker felt his hamstring in the penalty shootout defeat and was not risked today. He’ll carry the threat for the hosts as they seek to show a reaction to conceding six at the Etihad. The return of Van Dijk and Fabinho will be huge for Liverpool though.

The Reds are just a different beast with those two in the side, and they will seek to tighten things up after the concession of 5 goals in the last 2 matches. The side has been left way too open with Spurs and Leicester finding joy on the counter.

Liverpool will hope the return of their talismanic defensive leader and shield mean those problems are sorted. Leicester meanwhile will take solace from the fact they beat Liverpool here last season, with the in form James Maddison getting on the scoresheet.

They’ve also managed to score 3 goals at both Anfield and the Etihad in consecutive games. They certainly do have a goal or two in them, and if they can keep it solid at the back, will fancy their chances of nicking a goal.

Team News

For Liverpool, Harvey Elliot (ankle), Nat Phillips (cheekbone) and Origi (knee) remain out injured whilst Robertson is suspended. For Leicester; Pereira, Soyuncu, Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka remain out, whilst Jonny Evans is touch and go after the hamstring issue he sustained against Newcastle.

Key Players

Jamie Vardy

The 34 year old seems to love playing against Liverpool. His brace at Anfield in midweek extended his strong record against the Merseyside club. He’s now scored 10 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions against them and will be looking to add more here.

Diogo Jota

The 25 year old continues to be a revelation for this Liverpool side, with his pace, directness and lethal finishing infront of goal making him an explosive package. He’s netted 7 goals in his last 8 games in all competitions and his tally of 10 league goals can only be bettered by teammate Mohamed Salah.

James Maddison

The Englishman is experiencing something of a renaissance at the minute. He’s been in scintillating form since the end of last month as he’s gotten himself fit and firing. He’s scored 6 goals in his last 8 appearances in all competitions (including a screamer at Anfield) whilst laying on an impressive 5 assists.