Liverpool vs Leicester: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

The big leap! Virgil Van Dijk rose the highest to head in on day one against Leeds United. (Photo credit: premierleague.com)

Liverpool vs Leicester
Anfield
8:15pm

Chances that Leicester would still be top of the league by the time the kickoff whistle goes off here are quite slim but nothing stops them from returning to the summit when the final whistle goes off.

Liverpool are in one hell of a defensive crisis with three out of their regular back four out and probably on a long term basis.

In actual fact, a few days ago, Andy Robertson was reported to be injured and that would have meant all back four would be out but he was fit enough for Scotland’s last game of the year on Wednesday.

Liverpool head into this fixture on the back of a stalemate at the Etihad, a day they could have lost had Kevin De Bruyne hit target with his spot-kick after City cancelled out Mo Salah’s opener.

But a win here for the champions can also take them top of the league if Spurs doesn’t beat City earlier on Saturday.

Leicester are flying high, they can dream as it looks like anyone’s season, they sit pretty at the top but with lots of teams breathing down their neck, maybe this is a repeat of their 2015 glory but can they find the consistency to end the season as champions?

Brendan Rodgers still thinks he deserved the league title in 2013 when naivety and sheer carelessness, maybe with a little dose of ill luck cost him the title, then as a Liverpool manager,

He has a big chance now and the gritty win over Wolves last time out proved how they can get result on hard days.

Liverpool are badly depleted, Mo Salah tested positive to COVID-19 and would be out of this fixture, Diogo Jota will definitely have the chance he craves and maybe a look in for Xerdan Shakiri who seems forgotten.

But Leicester can exploit the poor looking defense that would line up at Anfield.

This is a high profile game and we must expect to have fun, the neutrals would enjoy this but how will they line up?

The key battles would be between whoever is called upon to help the Liverpool defense and a certain Jamie Vardy, Thiago Alcantara isn’t available so Gini Wijnaldum would lead the midfield as Jordan Henderson is also out.

Firminho has been under scrutiny for not scoring frequently as much as the other two, he has a chance to fix that even though it doesn’t appear like Jurgen Klopp cares about his run in front of the goal.

On the overall, this is Leicester’s chance to lay claims to the title, it’s anybody’s at this stage.