Leicester City travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool in the Premier League, after Sunday’s humiliation at the hands of rivals Nottingham Forest. 

Following the weekend’s result, City will be looking to bounce back and complete the double over Liverpool for the first time since the 1998/1999 season (11v11.com), after the shock 1-0 victory back in December. 

Liverpool are clear favourites for the win, and it will be a huge test at Anfield, under the lights. Especially with the unsettled squad and lack of options available to Brendan Rodgers.

  • Leicester city

Leicester are still without multiple key first-team players including Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans, Timothy Castagne and Wesley Fofana.

However, a huge boost for The Foxes is that fullback Ricardo Pereira returned against Forest off the bench, despite rumours he was still out injured. 

It is also unknown whether Nampalys Mendy will be available for selection following his inclusion in Senegal’s squad for their African Cup of Nations win on Sunday against Egypt. The Senegalese midfielder was added to Leicester’s 25-man squad following the January transfer window.

Kasper Schmeichel will more than certain start in goal behind a defensive pairing which is hard to predict, but we could see Caglar Söyüncü dropping to the bench following a string of recent bad performances. He may be replaced by Hamza Choudhury, and he would partner Daniel Amartey.

James Justin and Luke Thomas will likely play either side of the defensive line, and just in front Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall alongside Wilfred Ndidi. Once again, Youri Tielemans is another player who has not been at his best recently and after still not committing his future to the club Rodgers, may leave him out of the XI. 

As well as this, Marc Albrighton may make an appearance, on the right as he will offer more defensive stability down the right-hand side compared to what Ademola Lookman would offer. Harvey Barnes will most likely keep his place, but if City had cover in that position would not be far off losing it after many, poor performances.

James Maddison, unarguably Leicester’s best player this season, is the only dead-set player to feature in this XI, probably playing behind Patson Daka who did not start at the weekend but may have been rested for the trip to Merseyside.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Thomas, Amartey, Choudhury, Justin, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Maddison, Barnes, Albrighton, Daka (4-2-3-1)

  • Liverpool

The main talking point around LFC’s side is the inclusion of winger’s Mohamed Salah’s inclusion in their match day squad. After competing in the final of the AFCON on Sunday night, he returned to the UK swiftly and took part in light training on Tuesday.

Jürgen Klopp said, “I spoke to him (Salah) and pretty much the first thing Mo told me was: ‘I’m ready’ haha!” (Via Liverpool Echo)

Salah will likely occupy the right-hand side of the front three as ever, with the ever-growing Diego Jota on the right-hand side due to the later return of Sadio Mané. They will most likely line up either side of Roberto Firmino, who will be preferred to new signing Luis Diaz.

Jordan Henderson picked up a light knock in the 3-1 FA Cup win against Cardiff City, so will most probably miss the game, in his place would go Thiago alongside Naby Keita and the consistent Fabinho in the holding role. 

The fullbacks go without saying in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson and will be expected to play outside of Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip. Alisson Becker will more than likely be in between the sticks for The Reds.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Jota (4-3-3)

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