MY ACCOUNT
– Liverpool have won the most corners and scored the 2nd-most set-piece goals in the Premier League
– Leicester have conceded seven goals from set-pieces this season, Liverpool have scored 10
– Recommended Bet: Liverpool 4+ corners each half & Liverpool 1+ goals each half
Liverpool will hunt their fourth Premier League win in a row when, on Friday evening, they welcome Leicester City to Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s men refused to be thrown off the scent of another victory as they mastered Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Hounding the current top four, the sixth-placed Reds sit just five points behind Tottenham, who occupy the last Champions League qualifying berth but have played a game more.
Leicester, who have not won at Anfield in 22 years, sit in 13th place with a four-point cushion after their early-season brush with the relegation zone.
The Foxes’ early-season defensive frailties came back to haunt them in a 3-0 Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle at St James’s Park, and Brendan Rodgers will not want any repeat against his former employers.
Team news
Klopp will have largely the same group to select from, although Ibrahima Konate is now back in training after his World Cup exploits with France.
Cody Gakpo is finalising his move from PSV Eindhoven but cannot make his debut for the Reds until the trip to Brentford on January 2.
Arthur, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz remain long-term casualties, while Roberto Firmino is not yet ready to return from his calf injury.
James Milner (hamstring) and Curtis Jones (shin) are being lined up for comebacks at Brentford.
Leicester lost midfielder Dennis Praet to the injury curse on Boxing Day when he was forced off with an apparent knee problem after 17 minutes.
The Foxes are also without Ryan Bertrand and Ricardo Pereira. James Justin, Jonny Evans and James Maddison, who is still feeling the effects of the knee injury he picked up against West Ham just before the World Cup.
Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi are likely to return to Rodgers’ side in place of Boubakary Soumare and Patson Daka, while Marc Albrighton and Ayoze Perez are vying to step in for the unfortunate Praet.
The stats
Mohamed Salah’s goal at Villa Park was his 104th Premier League strike with his left foot, leaving him one away from equalling Robbie Fowler’s record of 105.
No player has missed more big chances than Darwin Nunez (12) this season, as many as Ivan Toney, despite the Uruguayan having had approximately half the playing time of the Brentford striker in the Premier League.
After producing just one assist in his first nine Premier League games of the season, Andy Robertson has assisted four goals in his last four league appearances.
Vardy has scored ten times in his 15 previous appearances against Liverpool, with Arsenal (11) the only top-flight team he has scored more goals against.
The Foxes are the only Premier League club yet to take a point after falling behind this term.
Prediction
The scale of Leicester’s task is enormous, as Liverpool have lost only one of their last 31 Premier League home games.
Rodgers will hope a revitalised Vardy, who has an excellent record against Liverpool, can make the difference in this fixture, but their defensive issues returned with a vengeance at St. James’ Park.
Only two top-flight clubs have conceded more set-piece goals than the Foxes this term, and they now come up against the team that have scored the second-most from set-play situations.
The Foxes are one of four teams that have faced over 100 corners this season, while no club has forced more than the Reds’ total of 111.
Leicester will face a massive test of their current weakness, and recent evidence suggests they will not cope well.
The match special of Liverpool to have 4+ corners each half and also 1+ goals each half looks well within the hosts’ grasp and can be backed at 7/2 with LiveScore Bet.
