Premier League Game Week 6

Leicester vs Liverpool

Date: Saturday 23 September 2017

Kick-Off: 17:30 BST

• UK TV: BT Sport 1
• Full Worldwide List

Match Build-Up

Jurgen Klopp's side enters the weekend in something of a slump, a 4 game winless streak since Week 3's demolition of Arsenal. Since then, the side has been outscored by 10 goals to 3, most recently coming out the wrong end of a bitter 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup at the King Power just a few days ago. In the League, Liverpool sit on 8 points in a bunched pack, one point off top-4 and 4 clear of Leicester who sit in 15th position.

Craig Shakespeare's lads will be looking to improve that tally tomorrow and replicate their earlier success, where a rotation team ran out victorious on late goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani. The Foxes have just one win in the Premier League, though, a 2-0 triumph over newcomers Brighton & Hove Albion in Week 2. Their last outing in the League proved a jammy one, with Jamie Vardy saving a draw versus newly promoted Huddersfield on a 50th minute penalty.

Team News

Matty James (Achilles) remains out for Leicester City following Craig Shakespeare's comments earlier this week indicating an absence of 4-6 weeks is to be expected. Christian Fuchs (eye) is reported to have been given the all-clear, while back-line counterpart Robert Huth (ankle) remains injured. Jamie Vardy (groin) is looking to be a match-day decision, while Vincente Iborra and Kelechi Iheanacho may be available for selection. Leonardo Ulloa (concussion) returned to light training but is unlikely to feature.

Adrien Silva remains out pending litigation regarding his transfer status; FIFA blocked the Portuguese international's move from Sporting CP due to a deadline violation, with appeals from Leicester City pending.

Simon Mignolet is set to get the start in net for Liverpool, taking up his normal duties in the League; Loris Karius will likely bounce Danny Ward back to 3rd choice and be on the bench.

Joel Matip is reported to be nursing a knock picked up in last week's 1-1 draw vs Burnley, and Dejan Lovren continues to nurse a back injury, though late-breaking news indicates that both are back in training and could start. Emre Can was reported to have picked up a knock in the Burnley match but is expected to be available for selection, having returned to full training Thursday. Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne remain long-term injuries.

Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino should return to the starting XI, while Sadio Mane sits out the 3rd of his 3-match ban. Philippe Coutinho, who played the first half of the Carabao Cup fixture, is likely to start.

Predicted Starting Lineups

Liverpool

Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Coutinho, Firmino, Salah.

Leicester City

Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Benalouane, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, King, Gray; Vardy, Iheanacho

Last (F)5 Meetings

  Date       Home/Away       Result        Score
26 Dec 2015   Home             W            1-0
02 Feb 2016   Away             L            2-0
10 Sep 2016   Home             W            4-1
27 Feb 2017   Away             L            3-1
19 Sep 2017   Away             L            2-0

Fun (and not so fun) Facts

• Saturday's match will be the 109th meeting between the clubs in all competitions; Liverpool currently lead the series (W45 D24 L39).

• In competitive matches, Jurgen Klopp has beaten Leicester twice and lost 3 times with a goal difference of -3 (5 scored, 8 conceded).

• Clean sheets are common in this fixture, but Liverpool rarely benefits; they have just one, on Boxing Day 2015, in the past 6 meetings. Leicester have claimed the other two, each by 2-0 scorelines.

Thanks to /u/ahp327 for the content