Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to cause an upset at Anfield.
Liverpool will take on Leicester City at Anfield on Saturday. It has been brilliant starts for Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers, who sit first and third in the league table respectively.
The Reds have been brilliant in the Premier League by securing six victories in the opening six games. Flaws have been showcased by the opponents in some games, but Jurgen Klopp’s side find a way to secure results. It has been a defensively unstable start as they conceded thrice in the recently-concluded game against RB Salzburg in the Champions League group stages. Their forward line has looked on fire and have been clinical.
Brendan Rodgers, who managed Liverpool between 2012 and 2015, will make his first return to his club, managing Leicester City this time around. The Irishman has brought the best out of the current lot by playing attacking football which has entertained the King Power faithful. He will face a stern test after clearing several hurdles in the past this season.
Liverpool are the favourites in this game, although Leicester City, on their current form, could give a tough push and make life harder.
We shall look at three players who could have an effect on this game between Liverpool and Leicester City.
#3 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil Van Dijk has not been at his best this season. The Dutch International has been mainly inconsistent since the kick-start of the club campaign and will be hoping to pull a string of consistent performances to help his side.
The former Southampton defender singlehandedly kept Sheffield United on check by shutting them down, but he struggled against RB Salzburg in the Champions League. It has been that kind of a season for the UEFA Men’s Player of the year, who will be striving to keep a clean sheet against Leicester City on Saturday.
The Foxes are likely to deploy Jamie Vardy and James Maddison to cause a wreck in the backline for Liverpool and Virgil Van Dijk needs to be careful because of the high-line approach. Liverpool have been caught off-guard while playing high line and it will be an important aspect against Vardy, who likes to make plenty of runs behind the opposition defence. Van Dijk has the pace to eliminate Vardy’s strengths.
#2 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Jamie Vardy has scored seven goals in six appearances against Liverpool in the past. The Englishman has made a fine start to this season, scored five goals, including the brace against Newcastle United last weekend.
The Reds will be aiming to keep a clean sheet after conceding thrice in the midweek against Salzburg. Their approach by playing the high line has cost them and Vardy will be hoping that their mediocre form in the backline continues as he likes to make numerous runs behind the centre-backs.
With the supply of Youri Teilemans and James Maddison, Vardy has guaranteed creativity and he will be hoping to take the chances coming in his way. The midfield battle will determine this game. Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Gini Wijnaldum are anticipated to take up the field. They are likely to go against Wilfried Ndidi, Youri Teilimans, and James Maddison.
If Leicester manage to beat Liverpool’s midfielder, Virgil Van Dijk and co will have a lot to deal with in the final third.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah looked rusty in the early parts of the game against RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Egyptian got the much-deserved goal in the half an hour mark to bolster his confidence and it spoke volumes for the rest of the game. He went through the Austrian defence with ease and created trouble for the majority of the game.
The 27-year-old has scored four times in the Premier League this season. Besides, he boasts three assists with his supply getting steeped highly. Himself and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the first-choice set-piece takers for the Reds and he could have his say with his spellbinding deliveries.
James Milner has played a bit-part role this season and the Englishman could be on the bench cum-Saturday. Should Liverpool be awarded a penalty, Mohamed Salah is the first-choice penalty taker. Leicester City are more focused on their attacking and leaves pockets of spaces in the backline which could benefit Mohamed Salah.
