Liverpool vs Leicester
England – Premier League
Date: Saturday, 5 October 2019
Kick-off at 15:00 UK / 16:00 CET
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool).
Team News
Liverpool could welcome the goalkeeper prime Alisson Becker in their side for this one, having been without FIFA Best Goalkeeper of the year since the opening day of the season.
Klopp has confirmed that Brazil will follow in the build up to the game, but if in doubt about continuing his fitness then Liverpool could wait until after the international break coming.
Joel Matip will also be retained for the match after picking up a knock against Sheffield United last weekend, forcing him out of the game Salzburg, where his absence was felt by Liverpool. Joe Gomez should continue to substitute for him.
The other places are apparently earning in midfield; Naby Keita came on as a sub late against Salzburg and is hopeful to begin next Fabinho, although the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana are also competing for places.
Mane is sadio a Premier League goal away from 50 for Liverpool, and would he in what will be his 100th for the club then it would be the 10th player to reach that landmark - more than any other club.
Leicester have a sniper in the form of their own, though, with the accolade of Jamie Vardy against Newcastle taking up to five in seven games this season and 14 in 17 since the first game Rodgers at the helm - more than any other player in the Premier League during that time.
The former England international is generally fun against Liverpool too, with only Andrew Cole and Thierry Henry scoring several times against the Reds at the time the Premier League and Sergio Aguero with a better goals per game ratio against the "big six" since the start of the 2010-11 season.
Vardy is not the only one who impressed under Rodgers, though, and Leicester will be particularly boosted by the return of James Maddison after missing the win over Newcastle last weekend.
Maddison has been linked with Liverpool, among other clubs, with the permission of his fine form and should go straight into the team, despite such a convincing win without him last time.
Liverpool can starting lineup:
Adrian; Alexander Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Leicester possible starting alignment:
Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans Soyuncu, Chilwell; Perez, Maddison, Ndidi, Tielemans, Barnes; Vardy.
Liverpool vs Leicester: Match Preview
Leicester face a difficult task in trying to get anything on the Reds to their fortress home, Anfield. Liverpool were winning at both half time and full time in nine of their last ten games here. They have also scored at least two goals in each of these ten games.
As the graph above, their underlying performance numbers were now at a high level for the last part of 2017. It is a level of performance that you expect from a title winning side. Their main problem is, of course, that Manchester City have also supported the phenomenal form in this period too.
The concern for them this season has been the number of defense which are now at a level we have not seen since the end of the tail of 2017. How much of this is up to no Alisson? Or maybe Liverpool trying to learn the impact of the VAR and Offside their high line? Or maybe even as simple as protection from midfield?
We generally see high by pressing the sides with the young players in midfield capable of those high intensity, fast twitch action for 90 full minutes. While the likes of Wijnaldum, Henderson and Milner are able to defeat the Premier League in midfield a marathon, as they move out and away from their 24-29 of advanced age, these explosive action will decrease first.
prediction
Liverpool were ruthless in the Premier League this season, but the Champions League against Napoli and struggles show Red Bull Salzburg they have their weaknesses.
Saturday's game against Leicester might be even more difficult domestic proof and even if it is difficult to see the Foxes leaving Anfield with three points, they might just become the first side to avoid defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
