Premier League team news and prediction: Leicester vs Liverpool

 

Liverpool are verging on their first crisis under Jurgen Klopp if they aren't already in it following last weekend's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield.

 

Jurgen Klopp's side are remarkably 10 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City ahead of the weekend's action and now face former manager Brendan Rodgers and his top-four challenging Leicester side.

 

Ahead of another massive weekend for Liverpool, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including team news, probable XIs and predicted scoreline.

 

 


When is kick off?
Saturday 13th February, 12:30 GMT
Where is the match?
King Power Stadium, Leicester
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1

 

Form Guide

 

As far as Liverpool are concerned there is little form to speak about. They have lost back-to-back games and have won only two of their last nine in the Premier League. Previously a fortress, playing away from Anfield may actually help Liverpool for now. Their last three league victories over a 10-game spread have all come on the road.

 

Leicester booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals in midweek and are only two points off second heading into the weekend. Brendan Rodgers' side have, however, stumbled of late in the league with just one win from their last four. Leicester have also lost all three of league encounters against Liverpool with Rodgers in charge.

 

Team News

 

Leicester's FA Cup triumph over Brighton came at a cost with James Justin strechered off injured. While Brendan Rodgers revealed the injury is not as bad as it seemed, he is surely unlikely to recover in time for Saturday's early kick-off. With Timothy Castagne also ruled out, Leicester are suddenly well short at full-back and that could change the complexion of this tie.

 

Alisson, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson all returned from injury to face Manchester City last weekend but it didn't make a difference as they lost 4-1. With a full week of training under their belt, deadline day arrivals Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies will hope to debut here. Kabak is more likely after Davies didn't even make the squad at the weekend in a move that could finally return captain Henderson back to midfield where he has been badly missed.

 

Probable XIs:

 

Premier League team news and prediction: Leicester vs Liverpool

 

Leicester (352): Schmeichel; Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Albrighton, Tielemans, Ndidi, Pereira; Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

 

Liverpool (433): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

 

Key Battle: Youri Tielemans vs Thiago

 

Premier League team news and prediction: Leicester vs Liverpool

 

Youri Tielemans has emerged as a real leader for Leicester this season, particularly as Brendan Rodgers' side have been forced to duck and weave throughout the campaign with injuries to key players at all times. Tielemans has particularly excelled in the big games this season, with two of his top five rated performances coming against the two Manchester clubs. A return of five goals is only one shy of his first two Premier League campaigns for Leicester combined.

 

With Fabinho ruled out, it seems captain Jordan Henderson will again be required at centre-back for Liverpool in a blow to Jurgen Klopp's side. The impetus will again be on summer signing Thiago to step up and deliver in Liverpool's midfield following a tough start to life in England. Liverpool supporters have seen flashes of Thiago's brillance but he is yet to really dominate a game over 90 minutes. In fact, Liverpool fans have only really seen Thiago's rash tackling on a consistent basis this season. Against Leicester's high tempo football, that will certainly be a worry again here. Two of his three yellow cards in the Premier League have remarkably come in the first five minutes of matches.

 

Scoreline Prediction: Leicester 1-2 Liverpool

Premier League team news and prediction: Leicester vs Liverpool