Leicester City could well end Boxing Day in the relegation zone as they make the trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool. It is safe to say that the new manager-bounce under Ruud Van Nistelrooy did not last long.
By Sam McGuire
The season so far
Liverpool ran riot against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points with a game in hand following Chelsea’s draw with Everton.
The Reds hit Ange Postecoglu’s side for six to return to winning ways following back-to-back draws in the English top flight. The pace setters have lost just once all season across all competitions. That was a shock defeat at Anfield to, at the time, a surprise package Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espírito’s Santo’s men, however, are currently fourth and just eight points off the top. Looking back now, it isn’t that much of a shock result.
Arne Slot’s team are now 21 games unbeaten. During this time, they have a win rate of 86%. This sheer dominance is why they sit top of the Premier League, lead the way in the Champions League with a 100% record, and they’re into the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
Leicester, meanwhile, are struggling.
The Foxes lost manager Enzo Maresca in the summer and have already replaced his successor. Steve Cooper didn’t last long, overseeing just 15 matches before being dismissed. Van Nistelrooy was hired as his replacement and though he started well, with a win over West Ham United and a draw with Brighton, Leicester has since lost 4-0 to Newcastle United and 3-0 to relegation rivals Wolves.
Van Nistelrooy’s side aren’t scoring (just 1.2 goals per game) and they are conceding (2.2 per game). It is a dreadful combo. They have kept just one clean sheet all season and only two sides, Ipswich Town (35.6) and Southampton (38.9), have a higher Expected Goals Conceded total this season.
Previous encounters
The Reds have won 11 of the last 15 clashes, including the last four on the bounce against the Foxes, scoring 10 and conceding two. Leicester have picked up three wins but their last victory at Anfield was back in the year 2000. It is a fairly one-sided fixture and, in truth, this one should be a formality. But the beauty of the Premier League, especially over the festive period, is that the sheer volume of football can be an equaliser. Quality suffers and upsets happen.
The Injury situation
Liverpool are still without Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley, both injured in the Champions League win over Real Madrid. Other than that though, Arne Slot has a full squad to pick from.
There’s depth in attack, with the Dutchman able to leave three from Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Darwin Núñez on the bench now.
Leicester are without a number of players.
First choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is expected to miss another game meaning the out of form, and former Liverpool shot-stopper, Danny Ward is going to start. Odsonne Édouard, Ricardo Pereira and Wilfred Ndidi are out until early next year while Abdul Fatawa is going to miss the best part of 2025 due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Prediction
It should be a home win, shouldn’t it? Liverpool are ruthless. Leicester are toothless. If the Reds are serious about winning the title, this will be three points. We’re backing them to show the mental fortitude to see this game through despite the makings of a potential banana skin. We’re going 3-1 to the hosts.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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