Leicester v Liverpool predictions: Foxes can topple depleted Reds

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Leicester City v Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Leicester draw no bet
1pt 6-4 general

Team news

Leicester
James Justin is ruled out, joining Timothy Castagne, Wesley Fofana, Dennis Praet and Wes Morgan on the sidelines. Ayoze Perez is a doubt.

Liverpool
Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk miss out.

Match preview

Leicester have often risen to big occasions this season, landing wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, and they look overpriced to topple Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

It feels like Brendan Rodgers has been at Leicester for an eternity, yet he is just over halfway through his second full season at the club.

Huge progress has been made under the 48-year-old, whose top priority will be to secure Champions League football.

The Foxes are also in two knockout competitions but Rodgers is aware of the hugely competitive nature of the scrap for top four spots and made seven changes for Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Brighton.

It was a gamble which looked in danger of failing for much of the night but Kelechi Iheanacho popped up with a 94th minute goal to secure a hard-fought 1-0 success and set up a plum last-eight tie at home to Manchester United.

Leicester also have the Europa League knockout stage to look forward to – they visit Slavia Prague next Thursday – but Rodgers wants his players 100 per cent focused on Liverpool, who are direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification.

Liverpool topped the table at the turn of the year but their title defence has gone sour and it is far from certain that they will finish in the top four.

They were impressive 3-1 winners at West Ham on their most recent road trip but that was one of just two successes in their last nine league games.

Jurgen Klopp's best-laid plans have been ruined by a constant stream of injuries, including the absence of three senior centre-backs – Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip – who remain in the treatment room.

Late January moves for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies were supposed to bolster the backline but neither featured against Manchester City last Sunday and a makeshift centre-back pairing of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson was ruthlessly exposed.

Liverpool's problems were compounded by an uncharacteristically poor performance from goalkeeper Alisson, and a general lack of confidence was also evident as they slid to their heaviest defeat since the 7-2 debacle at Aston Villa.

Klopp's first-choice front three of Mo Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane are available and could cause problems for a Leicester defence missing first choice full-backs James Justin and Timothy Castagne.

However, Leicester are also a dangerous side going forward with James Maddison linking up with a fit and fresh Jamie Vardy and they could be the latest side to take advantage of Reds' injury problems.

Key stat

Liverpool have won two of their last nine league games.

Sign up to Sky Bet and get £30 in free bets when you place a £5 bet

First single & EW bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport