Liverpool will hope to get three points vs Leicester City this evening as they face the Foxes at the King Power Stadium. After having the weekend off, the Reds welcome back several stars.
Liverpool were supposed to face Leeds United on Sunday, only for Covid-19 to hit their game as it did many others. In all truth, though, we doubt Jurgen Klopp was too annoyed with that decision.
The Reds have now had a proper break over Christmas and that brings benefits. For one, they got rest where they otherwise wouldn’t have, making the season’s busiest period a lot less busy. And there’s the added benefit of returning players.
Now, they would have returned for this one anyway but the break means no extra injury worries and one less game where it was all an issue. Liverpool, then, boast a very strong squad for this one.
So here’s what we think Liverpool will do vs Leicester City tonight.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Leicester City
Defence
Alisson will certainly play in goal here, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to be at right-back. We can be pretty confident that Kostas Tsimikas lines up on the left, too, with Andy Robertson suspended.
Virgil van Dijk is back in training – and has been for a few days – so we can expect his return here. As for a partner, the break suggests Joel Matip will stay in his first-choice role.
Midfield
With Fabinho, Thiago, Curtis Jones and Jordan Henderson all back, the midfield should be back to its best. In fact, we imagine Klopp will go with Fabinho at the base and Thiago & Henderson ahead of him.
That does depend on Thiago being able to quickly get back to his best, though. He only returned to training on Sunday but we think that’ll be enough to get up to speed.
If not, Naby Keita would be our pick to start in his place after a really impressive run of form.
Attack
Liverpool have to start Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane while they can – they’ll depart to AFCON after the Chelsea game on Sunday. Of course, they’d start anyway but there is an extra need to utilise the duo right now.
As for the centre-forward role, Roberto Firmino is absolutely magnificent but Diogo Jota is in the form of his life. We imagine Klopp will go with the no.20 and use the Brazilian from the bench here.
Our Liverpool lineup vs Leicester
Alisson
Alexander-Arnold – Matip – Van Dijk – Tsimikas
Fabinho
Henderson – Thiago
Salah – Jota – Mane
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