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Leicester logo
Premier League
Sep 23, 2017 at 5.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

2-3

Okazaki (45'), Vardy (69')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Salah (15'), Coutinho (23'), Henderson (68')

Preview: Leicester City vs. Liverpool

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League clash between Leicester City and Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

Liverpool will look to end a run of four games without a win in all competitions when they travel to Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The match comes just four days after the two teams locked horns in the EFL Cup, with Leicester emerging as 2-0 winners on home soil to book their spot in the round of 16.


Leicester

Harry Maguire and Alvaro Morata in action during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Chelsea on September 9, 2017© SilverHub

There is no getting away from the fact that Leicester have struggled for results in the early stages of the 2017-18 campaign, but the Foxes have had a very tough run of fixtures.

Craig Shakespeare's side lost 4-3 at Arsenal on the opening night of the new season, but did return to winning ways one week later courtesy of a 2-0 success at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Foxes then lost at Manchester United and at home to Chelsea, before picking up a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town last weekend. A total of just four points from five matches has left the former English champions in 15th spot in the table.

Liverpool at home represents another tough test for Leicester this weekend, but the Foxes will face Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City in their next three, which is a run of fixtures that should bring a healthy return of points.

Worryingly for Leicester, they have kept just one clean sheet and conceded 18 goals during their last eight Premier League matches, and a defeat this weekend would equal their lowest points tally after six matches of a Premier League season.

As mentioned, however, Shakespeare's side will enter the match off the back of a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, and the Foxes will be looking to pile more misery on the under-pressure Reds this weekend.

Recent form: LWLLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWLLDW


Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is not happy in this moment during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool on September 9, 2017© SilverHub

Liverpool collected seven points from their first three matches of the 2017-18 Premier League season, and everything was rosy at the club when they recorded a thumping 4-0 win over Arsenal on August 27.

Since then, however, Jurgen Klopp's side have failed to win in four matches across three separate competitions. The Reds were thumped 5-0 at Manchester City after the international break, before drawing back-to-back games against Sevilla and Burnley in the Champions League and Premier League respectively.

Tuesday's EFL Cup defeat at Leicester led to more criticism of Klopp, who has seemingly failed to address the defensive issues that are threatening to cost Liverpool the chance of a successful season once again.

Liverpool have won 132 points in 73 league games under Klopp, which is nine points fewer than in the same period under Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked as head coach in October 2015.

A total of eight points from five matches has left them in eighth position in the table - five points behind Manchester duo Manchester United and Manchester City.

Despite their troubles, Liverpool have actually only lost one of their last seven Premier League away matches, and a positive result this weekend would lead them nicely into upcoming league games against Newcastle United and Man United.

Recent form: DWWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWLDDL


Team News

Jamie Vardy reacts to missing a shot during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Chelsea on September 9, 2017© Offside

Jamie Vardy missed Tuesday's EFL Cup match with Liverpool due to a groin problem, but Shakespeare revealed at his pre-match press conference that the England international had trained on Friday morning.

Christian Fuchs is also available after passing a late fitness test, but Matty James will spend the next four to six weeks on the sidelines due to an Achilles problem.

As for Liverpool, Dejan Lovren is again expected to miss out with a back problem, but Joel Matip and Emre Can should be available after overcoming slight injury concerns.

Sadio Mane, meanwhile, is still suspended, which should see Philippe Coutinho start in the final third alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, King, Albrighton; Vardy, Okazaki

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can; Coutinho, Firmino, Salah


Head To Head

Leicester have beaten Liverpool in each of their last three meetings at the King Power Stadium - the latest of which occurred in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

The Foxes also recorded a 3-1 victory over the Reds in the corresponding Premier League game last season, and they will be attempting to win three consecutive top-flight matches against Liverpool for the first time since 1931.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Leicester 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool will be desperate to bounce back from a disappointing run of form, but Leicester have enjoyed success at home to the Reds in recent years. We are finding it difficult to separate the two teams on this particular occasion - score draw.



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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaks to Philippe Coutinho during their Champions League Group E clash with Sevilla at Anfield on September 13, 2017
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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