Liverpool vs Leicester: Match Preview & predictions
Liverpool vs Leicester: Match Preview & predictions. Liverpool host Leicester City in the Premier League on Boxing Day in what is their final home game of the calendar year.
The Reds are guaranteed to enter the new year as league leaders after their 6-3 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but have the ability to extend their four-point advantage on Thursday when the struggling Foxes visit Merseyside.
Arne Slot‘s side have still recorded just one lost in all competitions this term and are now the leading favourites for the Premier League title. They have won their last four meetings with Leicester and will likely earn a fifth straight victory at Anfield.
The Foxes had enjoyed a mini new manager bounce under Ruud van Nistelrooy, securing fortunate but important results against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion. However, reality has come calling in their last two outings, with 4-0 and 3-0 defeats to Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.
Take a look at how we preview the clash between Liverpool and Leicester.
What time does Liverpool vs Leicester kick-off?
Location: Liverpool, England
Stadium: Anfield
Date: Thursday 26 December
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
Referee: Darren Bond
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Liverpool vs Leicester H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Liverpool: 4 wins
Leicester: 1 win
Draws: 0
Last meeting: Liverpool 3-1 Leicester (27 September 2024) – Carabao Cup
Liverpool team news:
Liverpool have seen the likes of Alisson and Diogo Jota return over the past few weeks and now have almost an entirely fit squad heading into the clash with Leicester. The Reds are likely to be without Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, but should have the remainder of their team available.
Jota could earn a first start since October on Thursday having made another cameo from the bench against Spurs. With games coming thick and fast, the Portuguese could replace Cody Gakpo, with Luis Diaz moving to the left wing.
Kostas Tsimikas could be another to come into the starting lineup to offer Andy Robertson a rest, while Curtis Jones will fight with Dominik Szoboszlai for a spot in the XI.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Leicester
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.
Leicester team news:
Leicester’s alarming defensive record in their past two matches has coincided with an injury to Mads Hermansen. The excellent goalkeeper was withdrawn at half-time against Newcastle and the Foxes have conceded six in the 135 minutes that have followed. He could return against Liverpool but former Red Danny Ward will start otherwise.
Leicester’s fringe stopper Jakub Stolarczyk could return from his long-term injury at Anfield, too. Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, Odsonne Edouard and Abdul Fatawu are all sidelined for the Foxes at present.
Jamie Vardy has drawn blanks in his last two but enjoys an excellent record against the Reds. He’s scored ten in 17 matches with Liverpool, four of which have come at Anfield.
Leicester predicted lineup vs Liverpool
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Ward; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Skipp, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannous, Mavididi; Vardy.
Liverpool vs Leicester score prediction:
Only Tottenham have scored more than Liverpool’s 37 in the Premier League this season, the exact number that Leicester have conceded. Wolverhampton Wanderers are the only team with a worse defensive record than the Foxes.
25 points separate the two teams and the red-hot Liverpool will fancy their chances of putting Leicester to the sword on Boxing Day. They have been surprisingly porous in recent weeks without Konate at the back but their goalscoring form is mightily impressive.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed plenty of duels with Liverpool during his Manchester United playing days but he could be in for a long afternoon at Anfield on the touchline this Thursday.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
