Liverpool host Leicester City in their final game of 2022 on Friday 30th December, at Anfield.
THE BUILD UP
Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded their seventh league win of the season on Monday against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. It was the first defeat in the Premier League for the newly appointed Villa coach. The reds opened the scoring early with a well worked corner routine resulting in a Mohamed Salah goal, followed by a Virgil Van Dijk volley in the 37th minute. The hosts were able to pull a consolation goal back through an Ollie Watkins header in the 60th minute, but youngster Stefan Bajcetic ensured the three points would go to the red half of Merseyside through a composed finish through the legs of Tyrone Mings in the final ten minutes.
Leicester faced Newcastle at the King Power Stadium in a 3pm Boxing Day clash. The Foxes were defeated 3-0, with all three goals coming in the first half, in a dominant display from the Magpies. Chris Wood converted from the penalty spot against his old club following a Daniel Amartey foul on Joelinton. Miguel Almiron scored a sublime second to add to his impressive start to the season, and Joelinton secured the three points before the break with a powerful header past Joel Ward.
Liverpool currently sis in sixth place in the Premier League with 25 points, whereas Leicester remain in 13th with 17 points. Both sides will be aiming to end the year with a victory on Friday night.
Liverpool would remain in sixth position with a victory, but will sit one point behind rivals Manchester United, although they would have a game in hand. A positive result for Leicester would see them climb the table, potentially reaching the top half with a win.
TEAM NEWS
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool are expected to lineup with the same 11 which faced Aston Villa on Boxing Day, despite Ibrahima Konate returning to training after the World Cup.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
There were no new injuries recorded during or after the Aston Villa match, but Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz remain absent for the Merseyside club. Roberto Firmino is still sidelined but will be available for the game against Brentford on Monday. Other absentees are Curtis Jones, James Milner and Arthur Melo.
New signing Cody Gakpo will be unavailable for the match.
LEICESTER
Leicester City are expected to make three changes to the starting eleven that featured against Newcastle. Jamie Vardy, Ayoze Perez and Wilfred Ndidi are favoured to replace the injured Dennis Praet, Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ward; Castagne, Amartey, Faes, Thomas; Tielemans, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Perez, Vardy, Barnes
Dennis Praet suffered a blow to his ribs from Joelinton’s knee in the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, while James Maddison is still being assessed but has been announced unfit to make the lineup due to his knee injury. Ryan Bertrand is also suffering from a knee injury and will be unavailable for tomorrow’s fixture. Johnny Evans is carrying a calf/ankle injury and has no expected return date. Other absentees for the clash with Liverpool are James Justin and Ricardo Pereira who are both expected to return to action in January.
Head-To-Head
Liverpool have beat Leicester 17 times in 32 meetings, drawn six and lost nine.
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