Leicester City aim to continue their Premier League title charge when they take on inconsistent Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Thirteen points separate the two clubs as Leicester take an unlikely position at the top of the table, while Liverpool reside seventh, eight points adrift of a Champions League spot.
Leicester City
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Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Claudio Ranieri's Leicester team would have filtered down the league table at this stage of the season, but it is not to be.
The Foxes have impressed everyone by maintaining a challenge for the title, joining big boys Arsenal and Manchester City in the battle for the crown.
Leicester have only lost twice in 23 league games, winning 13 and recording eight draws, and while their form this season is something to be admired, they have been helped along by the big teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United dropping points.
Ranieri's side are one of the very few teams who have been consistent in this league campaign as they went 10 games unbeaten and are currently on five games without suffering defeat.
The Italian boss has constantly claimed that his team are not in the title race, but he may have to change his tune as they have a three-point lead over second-placed Manchester City and the next few weeks could be crucial as they take on the two-time champions as well as Arsenal before the end of the month.
Leicester had gone through a spell where they struggled for goals, but they got back to scoring ways against Stoke City on January 23 when Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa struck in a 3-0 triumph at the King Power Stadium.
Demarai Gray and Daniel Amartey were the only signings to come through the door in the January transfer window, but given how well Leicester have been performing, Ranieri is likely to have been keen to avoid disrupting the team.
The Foxes suffered a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in this fixture at Anfield in December, but they will not feel disheartened as they have spent 43 days at the summit of the league.
In addition, they have had 18 attempts on goal from counter-attacks, which is more than other top-flight team this season and star player Riyad Mahrez has been involved in more goals than any other Premier League player so far this season - 13 goals and eight assists.
Recent form: DDWDW
Recent form (all competitions): DWDLW
Liverpool
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Inconsistency has been Liverpool's main problem this season, but in a way, that was expected when new manager Jurgen Klopp came through the Anfield gates to replace Brendan Rodgers in October.
The German coach is yet to find his best team and is likely to spend in the summer in order to get the squad that he wants and a full pre-season to prepare them for a jam-packed schedule that he is only just coming to terms with.
It was a quiet January transfer window for the Reds as only two signings were made - Steven Caulker on loan from Queens Park Rangers and Marko Grujic, who was immediately sent back to Red Star Belgrade on loan.
Alex Teixeira was heavily linked with the club and reports claimed that Liverpool tabled bids of £25m and £28m for the Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker, but the Ukrainian outfit refused to sell.
Liverpool have not signed new players that can help them push for a Champions League spot, and given the lack of consistency and lengthy injury list, the Merseyside outfit have an uphill struggle to close down the eight-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Klopp has overseen just one victory in their last four league games and that was a dramatic 5-4 win over Norwich City, which was riddled with defensive errors.
The Reds' manager has been openly shocked by the amount of games that England's top flight compete in every season, and two FA Cup replays have not helped matters for the North-West outfit.
The statistics are not great reading for Liverpool as they have allowed opponents to score with their first shot on target in all four of their league games in 2016.
Despite already sealing a slender win over Leicester at Anfield in December, the Reds face a tough task at the King Power on Tuesday evening.
Recent form: WLDLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWD
Team News
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Ranieri has the luxury of an almost fully-fit squad to select from, and he is hopeful that Jeff Schlupp will have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to play.
For Liverpool, Klopp confirmed to the press on Monday that long-term absentees Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel and Philippe Coutinho will return to training this week, but Tuesday's game is too soon for the quartet.
Captain Jordan Henderson, though, will return to the squad after he was left out of the team that recorded a goalless stalemate against West Ham United in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the weekend.
The midfielder has been struggling with a heel problem, but could start against the league leaders tomorrow night, as Klopp is expected to ring the changes after making 10 alterations to the team for Saturday's match against the Hammers.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Kanté, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Clyne, Sakho, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Lucas; Milner, Firmino, Lallana
Head To Head
As mentioned, Liverpool have the edge over Leicester this season as Christian Benteke scored the only goal in their Premier League meeting at Anfield in December.
Overall, in the 19 games between these two sides in the league, Liverpool have a better win record as they have nine compared to Leicester's five.
On five occasions, nothing has been able to separate the two clubs.
We say: Leicester City 2-1 Liverpool
Leicester have the fortress of the King Power Stadium behind them as they seek revenge over Liverpool. They have some huge games coming up and those results could have a major effect on their Premier League title chances, but they will feel that they can get something from their opponents, who have struggled for consistency. At the moment it is difficult to judge what Liverpool side will turn up and given the number of defensive errors that they have been committing of late, Leicester could edge to victory.
Danielle Joynson
