2021-22 Premier League: Week 20 – Leicester vs Liverpool

Leicester welcome Liverpool to the King Power Stadium in a festive Bank Holiday Tuesday Night Football showdown. 

Victory would see Leicester climb as high as eighth, whereas Liverpool will stay second with a win but move to within three points of league leaders – Manchester City.

 

Team News

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Leicester could be without Harvey Barnes after the midfielder missed their Boxing Day loss at Manchester City for unspecified reasons.

Danny Ward (unspecified), Ricardo Pereira (shin), Jonny Evans (thigh), Caglar Soyuncu, Patson Daka (both hamstring) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) are ruled out, thus joining James Justin (knee) and Wesley Fofana (leg) on the Foxes’ injury list.

Liverpool could welcome Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones back after the quartet missed their recent matches, after self-isolating following positive Coronavirus tests.

Andrew Robertson is suspended whilst Adrian (calf), Nathaniel Phillips (cheekbone) and Harvey Elliott (ankle) remain ruled out.

 

Stat Attack

  • Leicester have claimed just four points from their last eight league games (W1, D1, L6).
  • Liverpool have lost three of their last six league visits to King Power Stadium (W3, L3).
  • Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have scored at least three goals in three of their last four matches against Leicester in all competitions (W2, D1).
  • Four of James Maddison’s five league goals for Leicester have been scored after half-time.
  • 25 of Liverpool’s 50 league goals this season have been scored by Mohamed Salah (15) and Diogo Jota (10).

 

Prediction

Leicester’s recent performances have been like a tale of two halves because they have been excellent in attack as evidenced by a second-half fightback at Man City on Boxing Day, yet their defending in that game was simply atrocious on top of silly fouls from Youri Tielemans.

Liverpool’s Boxing Day clash against Leeds meanwhile was postponed meaning that this is the second straight game they have faced Leicester in all competitions, after needing a second-half fightback to win their Carabao Cup tie following a contrastable display of attack and defence.

Goals therefore surely have to be a certainty here given the attacking quality of both teams yet defending will also be crucial, which surely should swing this tie towards Liverpool given Leicester’s terrible defensive ability at present but expect a cracker.

Prediction: Leicester 2-3 Liverpool

Result: Leicester 1-0 Liverpool

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