Liverpool could establish a gargantuan 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League if it can clinch a Boxing Day win away to Leicester City, who has failed to win its last three games in 90 minutes. Jurgen Klopp’s side returns to the domestic front following ta 1-0 extra-time triumph over Flamengo on Saturday to win the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup.
Leicester City vs. Liverpool
When: Thursday, December 26
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
The Reds have won in each of their last two visits to King Power Stadium. Leicester’s last win over Klopp’s men occurred in the Carabao Cup in September 2017, the last of three consecutive home victories the Foxes managed against Liverpool across an 18-month spell.
Both teams have drastically changed since then, and former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will hope any inside knowledge from his time at Anfield can help pull off a result for Thursday’s hosts.
The newly crowned ‘World Champions’ edged Flamengo in Doha, Qatar, to lift the Club World Cup for the first time on Saturday when Roberto Firmino again provided a timely winner late.
Leicester suffered a dip in form at just the wrong moment as it prepared for the visit of Liverpool, losing 3-1 at Manchester City in the last outing to put second place at risk. The Foxes remain one point ahead of the Citizens approaching Week 19, but a loss at home to Liverpool could see them fall.
Klopp will look forward to his Premier League comeback, where fans can expect to see a more familiar Liverpool lineup return, though Fabinho and Joel Matip are among those injured for the team’s visit to the East Midlands.
Joe Gomez looks likely to partner Virgil van Dijk in central defense—as he did against Flamengo—with Dejan Lovren also in a race to be fit. Georginio Wijnaldum returned to the Reds bench for the Club World Cup final, but was an unused substitute. He may come back into the XI at Leicester.
Leicester winger Harvey Barnes could miss out after he was taken off with a knock in the defeat to Pep Guardiola’s City, while midfielder Matty James is recovering from an Achilles injury.
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
