After some minor hiccups, Liverpool have gotten back to winning ways by picking up six points from their previous two Premier League games but next up, they have a tough one against Leicester City.
The Anfield outfit are nine points behind league leaders Manchester City but they have played one game less. City play before them this week so if Liverpool fail to win on Thursday then the gap is going to widen to 12 points.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are undefeated in 30 of their last 32 matches in the EPL and given the poor form that Leicester are showing right now, the home side will be looking to pick up all three points against the Foxes.
The manager rested a couple of first-team players during their FA Cup win vs Cardiff but he’s going to name his strongest side against Brendan Rodgers’ men. The international break has helped several players make a full recovery so Klopp will not have any issues naming a top-class starting XI. This is a must-win game for Liverpool which is why there’s very little margin of error for the manager as well as the players.
Liverpool team news vs Leicester City:
Alisson was rested during the weekend but the regular No 1 will come back into the side in midweek while Joel Matip will replace Ibrahima Konate as the defensive partner to Van Dijk.
Robertson got a much-deserved rest as Tsimikas played on the left-hand side of defence but the pair of Robertson and TAA are going to take the field against Leicester City.
Thiago made a comeback from injury as he came off the bench against Cardiff and there’s a chance the Spaniard could be used against Leicester. The Foxes are a quick counter-attacking side so the Liverpool boss could use the pairing of Fabinho and Thiago to break up play and dictate the midfield on Thursday.
In our #UCL squad for the knockout stages 🙌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 7, 2022
All of the Liverpool midfielders are back and available for selection meaning Klopp also has the option of using Naby Keita or James Milner in place of Thiago.
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah played in the AFCON final on Sunday so we don’t think they will be ready to play against Leicester. Jurgen Klopp is likely to give them an extended break since both of them went all the way in the tournament. The pair is expected to return to the club on Tuesday or on Wednesday.
Luis Diaz came off the bench in the FA Cup win and there’s no way the manager will hand him his Premier League debut against a tough opponent like Leicester City. Diogo Jota will operate on one of the wings while Harvey Elliot is used on the other.
Elliot came back from a long injury lay-off and he also capped his return with a goal vs Cardiff and going to be the one who will partner Firmino and Jota in the final third.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez have recovered from COVID and will be a part of the matchday but neither of them is expected to play any part on Thursday.
Liverpool injuries and absentees:
Divock Origi – Knee Injury – Ruled out.
Sadio Mane – Returning late due to AFCON.
Mo Salah – Returning late due to AFCON.
