Mohamed Salah returns in our predicted Liverpool XI vs Leicester City

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Liverpool host Leicester City on Thursday evening as they try to keep the pressure on in the title race. Here’s our predicted XI for the game.

Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Leicester City

Defence

Goalkeeper is an obvious one, of course – Alisson Becker, now he’s back at Liverpool from international duty. We imagine it’ll be Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, too, with Virgil van Dijk taking one centre-back spot.

Joel Matip will likely partner him. Andy Robertson seems likely at left-back, too, after getting a second-half appearance vs Cardiff City.

Midfield

Fabinho, like Alisson, is now back and should play the holding role. Jordan Henderson appears to be out, though, and we’re not sure Thiago will be fit enough to replace him.

And so the Liverpool midfield is a confusing one. Harvey Elliott, too, surely isn’t ready to start – but we wouldn’t entirely rule it out. Curtis Jones and Naby Keita failed to impress at the weekend, however, and we can’t see Klopp choosing them again.

There’s a chance at Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after he recovered from Covid-19 but we’re not sure what his fitness is now. Our guess, then, is that James Milner – who Klopp called outstanding on Wednesday – steps into the XI.

As for the third: take your pick of the above. We’ll guess Keita but it’s really unclear who’s ready to start.

Attack

Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will surely start for Liverpool in this one as they’re the two most reliable options right now. We’re also going to guess that Mohamed Salah goes straight back in.

The Egyptian should be extra motivated to play after his Africa Cup of Nations heartbreak. Klopp says he’s clearly disappointed still but ‘ready’. Perhaps Liverpool can take advantage of that by throwing him in immediately – he’ll certainly want to feature from the off. It’ll depend on his fitness levels, of course, but it’s Salah – we’re sure he’s good.