Leicester v Liverpool preview pack

The game kicks off at 2000 GMT at the King Power Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1.

Leicester v Liverpool: Our prediction

1pt First half to contain the most goals in Leicester v Liverpool at 12/5 – This has been the case in three of the Foxes’ last four Premier League games

The fairytale is over.

Claudio Ranieri’s exit from Leicester City on Thursday night, either a decision of incomparable brutality or just a necessary call depending on your viewpoint, has removed the last bit of good feeling created by last season’s title triumph.

The Foxes sit one point above the relegation zone before this weekend’s games after five Premier League defeats on the spin and they haven’t managed to score in any of those outings.

Jamie Vardy did net in the 2-1 defeat at Sevilla in midweek as the Foxes kept alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League ahead of the second leg at the King Power Stadium.

That improved display in Spain made the decision to sack Ranieri all the more surprising and there’s plenty more time for fans to dwell on that decision as Leicester host Liverpool on Monday night in the final match of this round of Premier League fixtures.

It’s a tough start for caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare, the experienced coach who has worked for the champions during both of Nigel Pearson’s reigns and Ranieri’s memorable time in charge.

Shakespeare should at least have the goodwill of the players, although we can’t be certain of anything if some of the reports about Ranieri’s departure are to be believed, and a clash against Liverpool should motivate the players regardless of who’s in the hotseat.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are, as you would expect, heavy odds-on favourites for the win but the upheaval at Leicester makes this contest a lot less certain to take a view on than it was a few days ago.

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at home to Tottenham in their last outing over a couple of weeks ago got them back on track after a run of only one win in 10 games, that success coming away at Sky Bet League Two side Plymouth in an FA Cup third-round replay.

That means the Reds can’t really be trusted at such a short price especially as they’ve lost to Wolves of the Sky Bet Championship in the FA Cup and Premier League strugglers Swansea and Hull in three of their last four defeats.

I can’t take any interest in backing Liverpool at short odds to win so I recommend going for goals early on in the contest.

Sadio Mane scored twice in the opening 20 minutes in that 2-0 win for Klopp’s side over Tottenham and there has been a run of first half goals in Leicester’s recent outings.

Three of the Foxes’ last four league games have seen the most goals scored in the first half, two goals being netted by Swansea, Manchester United and Southampton before the break in their wins against the champions.

Liverpool have the quality to overpower Leicester early on and that makes 12/5 a big price for the most goals to be scored in the opening 45 minutes on Monday night.

Even if Leicester enjoy a return to form, I’d fancy it to be because of a swashbuckling attacking start rather than a sturdy defensive effort given the amount of chances that have been created against the Foxes in the last few weeks.

It make sense to take the 12/5 with Coral for an exciting opening to first game of the post-Ranieri era.

Prediction: Leicester 1-3 Liverpool (Nick Hext)

Leicester v Liverpool: Team news

 Leicester's record signing Islam Slimani will be assessed ahead of the visit of Liverpool as the managerless club start life without Claudio Ranieri.

The striker has been struggling with a groin injury but did travel to Spain for their 2-1 Champions League defeat at Sevilla and has trained this week.

Caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare will be in charge after the sacking of Ranieri and will also assess Leonardo Ulloa who has been out with a thigh problem.

Liverpool are without midfielder Jordan Henderson due to a foot injury. 

Centre-back Dejan Lovren remains a doubt with a knee injury.

The Croatian, who travelled to Germany to see a specialist this week, has missed the last two matches and only started light training on Friday.

Striker Daniel Sturridge is also a doubt as he is still suffering the effects of a virus which forced him to return home early from the club's training camp in Spain last week. 

Teams:

Leicester (from): Schmeichel, Zieler, Simpson, Morgan, Wague, Huth, Wasilewski, Fuchs, Chilwell, Mendy, King, Kapustka, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Mahrez, Gray, Okazaki, Musa, Ulloa, Vardy, Slimani. 

Liverpool (from):  Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lucas, Milner, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho, Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Moreno, Can, Stewart, Origi. 

Leicester v Liverpool: Manager quotes

Craig Shakespeare (Leicester)

On talk of Claudio Ranieri losing dressing room support: "I'm not aware of any senior players going to the owners so that's news to me. 

"What I would say, there was a lot of frustration because of results but he hadn't lost the dressing room.

"Players have a voice, we have a good group of players who are tactically aware. You listen to the players but it's the manager who makes the final call.

"From a football point of view I have to tell you that the players are very professional. They are very hurt and very frustrated.

"I've not had one problem with them on the training field. They are very diligent and professional.

"They will be very disappointed, like everybody else, that the manager has lost his job." 

On Ranieri's departure: "We flew back from Seville, I arrived home and had a call, just before the news broke, from the director of football Jon Rudkin to tell me what was happening, asking me to take care of the next game.

"I'm very comfortable with the relationship, there's no hidden agenda from me. An assistant manager is there to support the manager in any way the manager sees fit.

"A lot of it has been speculation, with no foundation. My relationship with Claudio has been perfectly fine all the way along. I have never had a problem with him, he has never had a problem with me. I spoke to him after the news broke and he thanked me for my support.

"He seemed fine, a bit shocked but his tone was no different. He was very level headed in terms of 'that's football'. Most of the conversation will stay private but his tone was fine." 

Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Asked whether it was difficult to motivate players once they had tasted success he said: "No I don't think so but it depends on the players.

"If I think back 2011 we became champions and we had not the best start in the next season.

"I am pretty sure Ranieri didn't change. He is too experienced for this.

"He found a perfect clue for this team last year - how to give them a plan - but I can't say what happened there." 

On Leicester City: "Things I have no influence on I cannot really think about," he added.

"Does it change a lot for us? Not sure, we will see.

"I think probably the two assistants will do it so that's not a change.

"Probably the players have to show a few things and they (will) want to. It is obvious to not let them.

"You saw the Champions League game (against Sevilla in midweek) and the reaction after they scored: it was like two different games before and after they scored.

"Obviously they needed this goal to get confidence back.

"It was unbelievable the change in this one second when they scored.

"Maybe they can keep this and then we have to make it not too easy for them to bring it on the pitch or to not let their confidence grow.

"We have to play our best football - that's what we have been working on for 15 days."If we play our best we will be difficult to play against whoever." 

Leicester v Liverpool: Opta facts

Leicester won this fixture last season thanks to brace from Jamie Vardy (2-0). They’ve not won back-to-back home league games against Liverpool since August 1972. 

The Reds won the previous encounter 4-1 in September, but they haven’t beaten Leicester home and away in the same season since 2001-02. 

The Foxes’ last three Premier League goals against Liverpool have all been scored by Jamie Vardy. He’s the only Leicester player to score against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. 

However, Vardy has scored in just one of his last 18 Premier League games (a hat-trick v Manchester City in December).  

Liverpool have won more away games against reigning Premier League champions than any other side (8), including at Stamford Bridge in 2015-16. The Reds are also the only side to have done so in consecutive seasons (2000-01 and 2001-02 vs Man Utd). 

Leicester could become the first reigning top-flight champion to lose 15 league games within a season since Leeds United in 1992/93. 

The Foxes have lost their last five league games – the only other reigning top-flight champion to lose six on the bounce are Everton in 1928/29 (final six games of the season).

Sadio Mane has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other Liverpool player this season (15 - 11 goals, four assists). 

Georginio Wijnaldum has had a hand in three of Liverpool’s last four Premier League goals, scoring one and assisting two. 

Jordan Henderson is the only Premier League player to attempt more than 2000 passes this season (2059), whilst he’s also run the furthest (286.2km). 

Leicester v Liverpool: Sky Bet odds

Liverpool are Sky Bet’s 8/13 favourites for the victory with Leicester priced at 17/4 while the draw is a 3/1 chance. The Reds were cut to 8/13 to secure a top-four finish following their 2-0 victory over Tottenham while Claudio Ranieri’s men headed into the weekend as 7/4 shots to suffer relegation. Roberto Firmino heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 while Islam Slimani is considered the visitors’ main threat at 8/1 despite Jamie Vardy’s (17/2) midweek heroics.  

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