Liverpool vs Leicester City. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance53,226.
Saturday 30 December 2017 14:02, UK
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson remains unavailable for his side's home game against Leicester on Saturday.
Henderson missed the Boxing Day win over Swansea with a hamstring injury and no date has been put on his return. That victory saw Liverpool stretch their unbeaten run to 11 Premier League games - their joint-longest such run under Jurgen Klopp. They last went 12 without defeat in March 2015 [a run of 13].
Liverpool have scored 75 goals in their 29 games in all competitions so far this season - their highest-ever total at this stage of a campaign as a top-flight club. Their highest tally after 30 games as a top-flight side was 75 in 1980-81, so one goal against Leicester will beat that. Roberto Firmino has four goals in his last three games, and has earned particular praise from his manager.
"I appreciate Roberto's effort and performance always," said Klopp. "I am happy that he scored twice [against Swansea] but I could not say how many he has scored so far in the season because I feel he is always involved and always in and around the dangerous situations for the opponents."
Leicester are now winless in four matches in league and cup and more worrying than that is their tendency to concede from corners and free-kicks. Of the 30 Premier League goals that Leicester have let in this season, 13 have been from set-pieces so Claude Puel says his team must improve in these situations if they are to address their mini-slide.
"We need more concentration, more focus and more aggression from set-plays," Puel said. "The game [against Watford] was decided by set-pieces and that is where we have some things to correct."
Left-back Alberto Moreno could miss another three games with ankle trouble, Nathaniel Clyne is still sidelined by back trouble and forward Daniel Sturridge is a doubt after illness.
Leicester's Daniel Amartey is available to face Liverpool after he was banned for Boxing Day's 2-1 defeat at Watford.
The utility man was sent off after collecting two yellow cards in 16 minutes in last weekend's 2-2 draw against Manchester United but is back, although Robert Huth (ankle), Danny Simpson (hamstring) and Matty James (Achilles) remain out for boss Puel.
I'm unsure of Leicester again. They went 1-0 up against Watford, who couldn't win for toffee, and then end up getting beat! The way Liverpool are playing, I really don't think the Leicester defence are going to live with them.
I must say, £75m is a lot of money for Virgil van Dijk, but they'll be getting a lot of money for Philippe Coutinho if he goes too. I do like Van Dijk, and they need someone like him. I guess that's how much centre-halves are now, it just shows you how many kids want to play centre-forward these days. As Jose Mourinho said, full-backs are mega-expensive now too.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-1 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
