A visit to the King Power Stadium for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC outfit comes immediately after all hopes of a second successive top-flight crown for the Reds were dealt a major blow over the past weekend.
Manchester City secured a 4-1 win at Anfield on Sunday, their first on the venue in 18 years, as the Merseysiders suffered a third straight defeat on their own patch in as many games.
Much-needed momentum was on Liverpool FC’s side for a fleeting moment courtesy of consecutive wins on the road against Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United before relegation favourites Brighton came calling on Jurgen Klopp’s side last week.
The Seagulls shocked viewers by recording a 1-0 win as Liverpool FC put in a shallow showing on all fronts to succumb to an astounding loss at home turf.
3 – Liverpool are the first side to lose three straight home league matches in the following campaign after winning the English top-flight since Chelsea did so almost 65 years ago back in March 1956. Throwback. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/UDJymBGlUV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021
Further distress was in store for the Premier League holders in the form of table-toppers Manchester City inflicting more pressure on an under-fire Jurgen Klopp, whose team’s faint title hopes look all but over ahead of making the trip to East Midlands and face off against the Foxes.
Brendan Rodger’s Leicester City currently sit three points atop of their upcoming opponents in the league standings and have a chance to supplement their lead should they hand a third consecutive defeat in Premier League action to a misfiring Liverpool FC side.
Already reeling under the pressure of potentially missing out on Champions League football for the 2021-22 campaign, it is surely now or never for the Merseysiders to hit the ground running once again and exhibit their class against a top team.
The Foxes come into the weekend clash on the back of a goalless stalemate against Wolves and Rodgers would be hoping to get the better of his successor at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp, when the two managers meet on Saturday.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Saturday 19 December
Time: 3 PM GMT
Venue: King Power Stadium
TEAM NEWS
New signings Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies are speculated to be in the fray to make their debut appearances in the Liverpool FC shirt after being kept on the sidelines for the City fixture.
Jurgen Klopp would be keen to shift his trusted midfield options of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho back into the centre of the park and instead slot in Kabak at centre-back.
Andy Robertson is one name on the teamsheet who is reckoned to be provided with some much-needed rest as Greek international Kostas Tsimikas looks towards making his Premier League bow for the Merseysiders.
Diogo Jota’s return from injury provides Klopp with additional options to field upfront but the Liverpool FC gaffer is understood to be cautious on reintegrating the former Wolves man into the first-team fold at Anfield just a week after his respite from a two-month-long injury break.
KEY BATTLE
James Justin vs Thiago Alcantara
Justin has shone for the Foxes since the turn of the Premier League campaign in a backline that felt the absence of star full-back Ricardo Pereira.
The 22-year-old’s incredible displays at the back have made him a first-team regular for Brendan Rodger’s men and Liverpool FC face a tough task at hand to get the better of the in-form Englishman when they make the visit to the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
A lot would depend on new recruit Thiago Alcantara to break open a resilient Foxes defence, with the Spaniard having an extra point to prove after what has been a largely mediocre spell in his new colours following his move to Merseyside last summer.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool FC shoulder a lot of pressure heading into the weekend showdown with Leicester City and the recent run of results have suggested that Klopp’s men appear far from their usual composed best whilst on the pitch.
Saturday’s hosts would be relishing upon the chance to take on an embattled Reds outfit and we predict the Foxes to secure a 2-1 win at their own territory.
