Table-toppers Leicester City will hope to spring an upset when they take on an injury-stricken Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday night.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are coming off a 1-1 draw away to Manchester City, while Brendan Rodgers’ side are on a roll with six consecutive victories.
English Premier LeagueSunday 22 November – 21:15
Anfield
To Win Match
Liverpool 19/20 | Draw 28/10 | Leicester City 26/10
Liverpool
With eight matches played, four of which have been against Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and Manchester City, Liverpool are just one point off the top of the Premier League.
The Reds will be looking to leapfrog the Foxes on Sunday and return to the table’s summit, but they’ll be without a number of their first-team members in every position, except the goalkeeping department.
Preferred centre-back pairing Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both out for the season, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is sidelined with a calf injury, while left-back Andy Robertson is a doubt with a hamstring problem – meaning Klopp could be without his entire first-choice back-four.
Fabinho and Joel Matip could be selected in the centre of defence with Neco Williams likely to start at right-back, with Kostas Tsimikas starting on the left after recovering from an injury of his own.
Jordan Henderson picked up an injury during England’s UEFA Nations League game against Belgium, so, he too remains a doubt for this weekend. However, some reports say that Thiago Alcantara could return to the side.
The Spaniard will likely start in midfield, alongside Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum who scored twice in Holland’s 3-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mohamed Salah picked up the coronavirus on international duty and will be absent self-isolating. It’s a huge blow as the Egyptian has been hugely important for the Reds this season, scoring eight goals already.
By far the most obvious replacement, Diogo Jota will join Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in attack. The Portuguese has hit the ground running since arriving at Anfield from Wolves, scoring seven goals in all competitions so far this season.
Leicester City
After eight games played, Leicester City have risen to the top of the Premier League, above the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea.
Not only have the Foxes enjoyed such a strong start to the season that they’re currently in first place with the third-most goals scored of any side in the division, but they also have a certain Jamie Vardy up front.
Last season’s Golden Boot winner has started this term with eight goals in just seven appearances and will relish the chance to rip apart what will be something of a makeshift Liverpool backline.
He will be joined by the likes of Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes who will look to create chances for the in-form striker. Tielemans has returned to form with three goals in eight games for the side, while Barnes has three goals and an assist.
Leicester City are eyeing their seventh consecutive win in all competitions and having already taken all three points from away games at Manchester City and Arsenal this season, the Foxes will go into Sunday’s game in a confident mood, also remembering that Klopp‘s side were startlingly thrashed by Aston Villa.
Kasper Schmeichel sustained a head injury whilst playing for Denmark against Iceland, but the Dane was back in training not long after the incident and is likely to be available against Liverpool this weekend.
Rodgers should also be able to welcome back defensive star Timothy Castagne after he missed all of King Power side’s previous three outings.
Prediction: Leicester City (26/10)
Leicester City have been superb this season, particularly away from home where they’ve claimed wins over Manchester City and Arsenal. Liverpool are missing several key players, including Mo Salah, and with so many changes to the side, the Foxes won’t get a better chance to claim maximum points at Anfield. The away win is well worth a punt.
Written by Chad Nagel for Hollywoodbets.
