Leicester City take on title rival – Liverpool in a blockbuster Boxing Day conclusion at the King Power Stadium.
After suffering defeat at the weekend, Leicester are looking to reduce their ten point deficit to Liverpool down to seven points whereas a win will surely move the Reds closer to their first Premier League title.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesHarvey Barnes is a doubt for Leicester after being subbed at Manchester City with an ankle injury.
Matty James remains the Foxes’ only definite absentee with an on-going calf injury.
Liverpool will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury in Saturday’s Club World Cup Final victory over Flamengo.
Dejan Lovren (muscle), Fabinho, Rhian Brewster (both ankle), Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne (both knee) remain ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Stat Attack
- Leicester have taken just a single point from their last five league meetings with Liverpool (D1, L4), although both teams scored in each of those five clashes.
- Sadio Mane has scored in each of his last three appearances for Liverpool against Leicester.
- Leicester have scored in each of their last seven home games against Liverpool in all competitions, since playing out a goalless league draw in March 2004.
- No team has scored more goals on the counter-attack than Leicester this season, who have scored on six occasions via the counter-attack.
- Liverpool are yet to score from a free-kick in the league this season.
Prediction
Liverpool will need to be at their best here because after struggling to break down Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup Final, they are probably in for a similar challenge because Leicester will be difficult to edge past especially when adjusting back to domestic football.
I am therefore expecting the Reds to dominate but Leicester’s powerful counter-attacks could be key to the result, although their finishing will need to be clinical to edge past Alisson.
A draw therefore is my best bet given the quality in both teams although a part of me thinks Leicester might just edge this with a late winner.
Prediction: Leicester City 1-1 Liverpool
Result: Leicester City 0-4 Liverpool