Date – 26th December 2024
Venue – Anfield
Kick-off – 20.00
After an exhilarating evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Liverpool triumphed with a thrilling 6-3 victory, the team must now put that match behind them as they prepare for a return to Anfield against Leicester City on Boxing Day. The focus shifts to Leicester City as Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, aims to overcome fellow countryman and former Eredivisie rival, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Leicester City Team News
Leicester will be without Issahaku Fatawu, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ricardo Pereira for this Thursday night fixture, while Mads Hermansen is set to undergo a late fitness test. Recently, Leicester suffered a 0-3 defeat at home to Wolves, following a heavy 0-4 loss away to Newcastle. Before these disappointing performances, they managed a solid 2-2 draw against Brighton. After 17 matches played in the Premier League, the 2015-16 title winners currently sit 17th in the standings with just 14 points.
Here is a predicted lineup for Leicester in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ruud van Nistelrooy will likely make changes to the team that struggled against Wolves, as his side’s form continues to decline.
Predicted XI: Danny Ward, James Justin, Conor Coady, Wout Faes, Victor Kristiansen, Harry Winks, Bilal El Khannouss, Hamza Choudhury, Stephy Mavididi, Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool will be missing Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konaté, although they are close to returning to first-team training. The Reds’ recent league form reflects an impressive performance, most notably their 6-3 win against Spurs, which followed a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham and a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle. The team advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 victory over Southampton last midweek. With 16 games played, Liverpool currently sits at the top of the Premier League standings with a remarkable total of 39 points.
Here’s the lineup I expect Arne Slot to field for this Boxing Day encounter. While there may be a desire to keep the same starting eleven, rotation might be essential to sustain momentum during this crucial festive period. A trip to West Ham awaits this coming Sunday, therefore, some tough calls on selection may well unfold before that trip south.
Predicted XI: Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk (c), Kostas Tsimikas, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo
How Will This Contest Play Out?
Liverpool will aim to make a strong statement after Christmas and avoid repeating the dropping of points from previous matches. The uncertainty surrounding Leicester City should benefit a confident and vibrant Liverpool team, likely leading to a convincing win for the Merseyside giants. Jamie Vardy will as ever be a man to contain, however, his chances may well be limited.
Player to watch – Trent Alexander Arnold
Steven Smith’s Score Prediction: Liverpool 4 – 0 Leicester
