Liverpool return to action in the Premier League following their Club World Cup success in Qatar.
The Reds won the competition for the first time in their history as they got past Flamengo thanks to Roberto Firmino’s extra-time winner.
- The best pictures and videos from Liverpool’s Club World Cup triumph
But the Premier League leaders aren’t being eased back into things on a domestic front in the slightest as they face a tough trip to nearest rivals Leicester in the top flight’s final Boxing Day match.
You can listen to full commentary of Leicester vs Liverpool LIVE on talkSPORT, kick-off 8pm with talkSPORT covering all nine Premier League Boxing Day matches exclusively for the first time ever.
The Ten Games of Christmas on talkSPORT
talkSPORT will be covering all nine Premier League Boxing Day games exclusively for the first time ever, with a further game on December 27. Find out what the matches are and where you can hear them, below…
- Tottenham vs Brighton (Thursday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Bournemouth vs Arsenal (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Aston Villa vs Norwich (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT app
- Chelsea vs Southampton (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT app
- Crystal Palace vs West Ham (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT app
- Everton vs Burnley (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT app
- Sheffield United vs Watford (Thursday, 3pm) – talkSPORT app
- Manchester United vs Newcastle (Thursday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Leicester vs Liverpool (Thursday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
- Wolves vs Man City (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT
There’s a ten-point difference between the two sides with Leicester having played a game more so a win for Liverpool would arguably put them out of sight.
However, they will be without midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for this match and the rest of the festive programme after he sustained ankle ligament damage at the Club World Cup.
He could be out for up to six weeks after manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed it was not a minor problem.
Klopp said there were no other injuries from their week in Qatar, but that centre-backs Dejan Lovren (hamstring) and Joel Matip (knee) and midfielder Fabinho (ankle) would not return before 2020.
The Reds are already light at the back and also in midfield as a result of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury.
It means the likes of James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum, who is just coming back from a hamstring injury, could be recalled to the starting XI.
The manager may also want the more attacking minded Naby Keita to be on the bench as the Guinean did not have a particularly good game against Flamengo plus Liverpool are likely to face an onslaught against Brendan Rodgers’ side at the start so playing more defensively-minded midfielders could be a wise move.
There are no injury concerns up front though, with the dangerous front three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane returning from the tournament unscathed.
As for Leicester, Harvey Barnes could be fit despite injuring his ankle in a clash with goalkeeper Ederson in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City but will be hoping to be available against the Reds.
Matty James is training after his Achilles problem but remains short of match fitness.
So what team will Klopp pick for the clash at the King Power Stadium? Below you can see talkSPORT.com‘s predicted Liverpool line-up.
Click Here: Cheap Golf Drivers