Liverpool v Leicester City

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool be without defender Martin Skrtel for the first time this season in the league as he faces a six-week absence because of a torn hamstring.

Dejan Lovren and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet have recovered from respective knee and hamstring injuries.

Leicester defender Robert Huth is back after suspension and is likely to replace Marcin Wasilewski.

Danny Drinkwater will not be rushed back from a hamstring injury and Jeff Schlupp is out with a similar problem.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Bower: "The question on everyone's lips is 'how far can this incredible Leicester story can go?'

"If they can come out of the hectic festive schedule in positive fashion then the belief that it could reach fairytale proportions will only increase.

"Fresh from a win across Stanley Park last weekend, they will fancy their chances of another three points on Merseyside.

"This is an important game for Liverpool, who haven't won in their last three league matches. Their headline-grabbing performances under Jurgen Klopp so far have all come away and they need to improve at Anfield.

"Their first challenge is to become the first team to stop Leicester scoring all season."

Twitter: @SteveBowercomm  

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri: "I think if we go through this fantastic moment - because now we have Liverpool, [Manchester] City and then Bournemouth, who are in great form, then Tottenham - maybe if we are still top not only Leicester fans are behind us, but a lot of English fans as well, because Leicester I think are a likeable team.

"Maybe the people say: 'If my team don't win, I'm very happy if Leicester win' and this is a good thing."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Leicester's success: "I am not surprised any more, no one is surprised any more. They have quality and it is deserved.

Leicester don't need many chances to score. We have to avoid starts like we had too often this season. I would like to defend a 1-0 and not always strike back from 0-1. We need to be concentrated from the first second."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Liverpool will probably have to go back to basics - getting tackles in and squeezing the opposition. They didn't do that in the 3-0 defeat at Watford.

But because Liverpool are the underdogs - and because there will be a great Boxing Day atmosphere at Anfield - I'm going for a home win.

Lawro's full predictions v SAM the super-computer

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Liverpool are unbeaten in the six most recent Premier League meetings (W4, D2).
• Leicester's last win at Anfield came in May 2000 when Tony Cottee and Phil Gilchrist scored their goals.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have not lost at home on Boxing Day for nine matches (W6, D3) since a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in 1986.
• The Reds have earned 12 points from nine league matches under Jurgen Klopp, the same as they managed in eight games with Brendan Rodgers in charge earlier in the season.
• Their only league win at Anfield in four matches since Klopp took charge was against struggling Swansea last month.
• Liverpool's tally of 20 league goals is the fewest by a team currently in the top half of the table.
• They have kept two clean sheets in their last 14 Premier League games - having not conceded a goal in their opening three fixtures of the season.

Leicester City

• Leicester are only the third team in top-flight history to be bottom of the league at Christmas one season and top of the table at the same stage the following year. Burnley were the first, in 1925 and 1926, followed by Norwich City in 1987 and 1988.
• Claudio Ranieri's side are unbeaten in 10 games and have won 18 of their last 26 league fixtures, losing just twice.
• They have not lost an away match for nine months since a 4-3 defeat at Tottenham in March (W8, D4). The Foxes could equal their club league record of 13 consecutive away matches unbeaten, set from December 2013 to April 2014 in the Championship.
• The Foxes are the division's leading scorers with 37 goals and are the only side to have scored in every Premier League game this season.
• However, they have won just one of their last 10 top-flight fixtures on 26 December (W1, D3, L6).
• Jamie Vardy has earned league-high six penalties since the start of 2014-15.