LEICESTER CITY
v
LIVERPOOL
King Power Stadium, Leicester
Tuesday 2nd Nov, 2014,Ai??19:45 GMTAi??
***
Liverpool travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City tonight. Both teams are looking to start the busy winter period on a positive note. Liverpool went four games without a victory and were without a single point last month prior to Satudayai??i??s victory against Stoke City. But the manner of the late win seems to have brought about the belief that the Reds can go on a positive run now and keep moving up the table. They have another chance to take a small step in the right direction against relegation threatened Leicester City who are languishing at the bottom of the table with just 10 points from 13 games. They have conceded the second highest number of goals and have picked up only one point last month. The 5-3 win over Manchester United seems a long time ago now and Nigel Pearsonai??i??s side have taken just two points from eight matches since then. The competitive nature of the league sees the bottom seven only separated by three points but Leicester need to have more creativity and goals to give themselves a good chance of survival.
Liverpool have already lost four times times away from home this season and although the recent win would have helped build confidence, the pressure is still on them to improve their woeful away form. Victory for Liverpool would see them move back into the top half of the table as they come up against a side looking for their second home win this season.
Team news and tactical brief
Leicester City
David Nugent will require a late fitness test to determine whether he is fit enough to start this game after it was reported that the striker has a sore calf and ankle. Dean Hammond returned to training after his calf injury but is unlikely to be considered. Former England defender Matthew Upson is back in training but lacks match fitness following his foot injury in summer. Nigel Pearson will lineup his team in a traditional 4-4-2 module with Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp in opposite flanks. Estenban Cambiasso will experience his first footballing Christmas alongside Matty James in midfield.
The defence does not look likely to keep out a strong Liverpool attacking lineup so the onus will be on the forwards to get the goals tonight. The Foxes ended their 504-minute goalscoring drought in the 3-2 defeat against QPR on Saturday and they will be hoping that Argentine Leonardo Ulloa will finally get his goal after a barren run of eight league games. Jamie Vardy is a hardworking striker who will be a constant nuisance to the Liverpool defenders but he does not have the quality to make a decisive impact. Ex- Liverpool player Paul Konchesky will start at left back while former Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet will be on the opposite flank.
Probable Starting Line-up (4-4-2): Schmeichel(GK); Konchesky, Morgan, Wasilewski, De Laet; Cambiasso, James, Schlupp, Mahrez; Vardy, Ulloa
Liverpool
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is likely to be restored in the starting line-up after being rested at the weekend. On the 16th anniversary of the Reds debut, the club captain started on the bench and his manager later admitted that he was not aware of the significance of the occasion which led to rumors of a fallout between the two. Those reports have been strongly denied and now Rodgers has to decide where to play his skipper after Lucas Leivaai??i??s excellent displays in recent games. The likeliest scenario seems Gerrard will play just behind the lone striker Rickie Lambert who will be making his fourth successive start in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli. Lambert looked exhausted late on against Ludogorets and Stoke so there is a good chance that Fabio Borini will see some action later in the second half.
Both Glen Johnson and Luis Enrique are likely to retain their places after solid displays in the weekend while the central defensive pair of Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure will definitely remain unchanged. With Gerrard being freed of his defensive duties it seems Rodgers will most likely start Lucas Leiva in midfield alongside Joe Allen. Jordan Henderson could make way for Adam Lallanaai??i??s creativity while Raheem Sterling should start on the right flank.
Probable Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1): Mignolet(GK); Johnson, Toure, Skrtel, Enrique; Lucas, Allen; , Lallana, Gerrard, Sterling; Lambert
Key Facts
-
Leicester City have lost just one of the last six Barclays Premier League home games against Liverpool (W2 D3 L1)
-
The Reds have lost four of their last six road trips in the top flight (W2 D0 L4)
-
The Foxes have won just two of their last 19 Premier League home matches (W2 D12 L5)
-
Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League away games
-
The Reds have already lost four Premier League away games this term; the same number they lost on the road last season and just one fewer than they suffered in 2012/13, Brendan Rodgersai??i?? first campaign at the helm (5)
-
Liverpool have not lost three consecutive away league games since April 2012, under Kenny Dalglish
-
Only against Wigan (14) has Steven Gerrard played more Premier League games without scoring than he has against the Foxes (6)
-
Leicester have not failed to score in three consecutive home league games since March 2008, and have not done so in the top-flight since September 1983
-
Leonardo Ulloa scored five goals in his first five Premier League appearances, but has failed to score in the eight games since in the competition for the Foxes
-
No side has a top scorer with fewer goals than Liverpool (Raheem Sterling, 3 goals) in the Premier League this season (Aston Villaai??i??s and Stokeai??i??s top scorers also have three goals)
Players to Watch Out For
Esteban Cambiasso (Leicester City)
Former Inter Milan legend Esteban Cambiasso will play a vital role if Leicester are to succeed in the midfield battle with Liverpool. The signing of the Argentine was a huge coup for Leicester because of his reputation and experience. His experience in big games could be decisive tonight.
Rickie Lambert (Liverpool)
Rickie Lambert wasnai??i??t particularly impressive against Stoke but it was his header which led to Glen Johnsonai??i??s dramatic late winner. This is his fourth consecutive start and he has made a positive impact on all the other previous games in which he has started so far. Lambert will relish the duel with Leicesterai??i??s physical backline.
Prediction
Leicester City 1ai??i??2 Liverpool
Leicester City have been disappointing defensively throughout the season and Rodgers may encourage his side to start with a high tempo putting pressure on the shaky defence with the aim of taking an early lead. The Foxes also realize that for them attack is the best form of defence so they are likely to attack the visitors from the first whistle. Everything points to an open exciting encounter with Liverpool getting their second win on the bounce.
Blast From the Past
The last meeting between these two sides finished in a 2-1 win for Liverpool during the 2003-04 season.
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