Match Preview: Leicester City vs Liverpool

Leicester City 7th (2-0-1) vs Liverpool 1st (3-0-0)

Live from the King Power Stadium at 7:30 AM ET on NBCSN

Leicester’s two game homestand comes to an end before the international break with arguably their toughest test to date. While the early morning kick-off won’t be favorable to those west coast fox faithful, I look forward to having the rest of my morning to celebrate a fantastic win.

Liverpool

Fantastic the Foxes will have to be if they want to steal three points at home against an even better Reds side from last season. Naby Keita has proved worth the wait and Mohamed Salah has shown no sides of slowing down. Mini-tank Xherdan Shaqiri has seemed fine so far living the life on the bench for his new side and I for one will be glad if he stays there. He always manages to make our lives difficult, doesn’t he?

Liverpool have had a great draw for a “top six” side to start the season. Home games against West Ham and Brighton with an away clash at Crystal Palace smushed in between the two. They started off with a bang, winning 4-0, then went away to win 2-0, before winning 1-0 again at home. Two patterns emerge here. The first is the dwindling of goals scored by Klopp’s side, which in hope will mean a clean sheet for Leicester. The second is they haven’t allowed a goal yet. Could this be the perfect storm for a famous home victory?

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Sadio Mane has yet to have a flashpoint this season and I’d like Leicester to give it to him. The pacey winger will give the back four a run for his money, but I’d prefer the Foxes to not give him an inch on the ball.

Leicester City

A lot more first team players than expected started on Tuesday in their 4-0 victory over Fleetwood Town. While the Cod Army kept up the tradition of giving Leicester a nervy first few minutes, the Foxes turned a coal of a start into a diamond of a finish. Daniel Amartey started once more at right back and I think he’s starting to settle. Harry Maguire, the hero from the Southampton match, got a much needed rest and should be raring to go on Saturday.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

It was such a frustrating thing watching Demarai Gray for the first 55 minutes of the match. His touches were just a little off the mark and it honestly looked like it wasn’t going to be his day. Kelechi Iheanacho’s pass took a bit of a lucky deflection and it fell to Gray and he sprung on his chance. It was great to see him finally put one in the net after such a long wait.

Prediction

In pure bias I think the Foxes can win 2-0. In all likelyhood, it will be a goalfest. Liverpool’s firepower plus the uncertainty of Leicester’s back four on a given day, could lead to a long day. Sod that though, Leicester win 2-0!