The fourth round of Premier League fixtures sees Liverpool go head to head with champions Leicester City at Anfield.
This will the first game of the season playing at home for Liverpool after their stadium expansion.
Both teams are not in terrific form with four points each from the first three Premier League games. However, Leicester City will be boosted by their 2-1 win against Swansea City and Liverpool will rue their missed chances after their 1-1 draw against Spurs at White Hart Lane before the international break.
Team news for Liverpool: No fresh injuries for Liverpool. Emre Can is still out with ankle injury.
Team news for Leicester: Apart from Jeffrey Schlupp and Nampalys Mendy, the rest of the squad is available for selection.
Here, we analyse four key battles for Saturday’s match at Anfield:
1. Roberto Firmino vs. Wes Morgan
Despite being deployed up front by Jurgen Klopp for the first three games, Firmino is still without a goal for the Reds as they are searching for their second win of the season. On his best day, he can terrorise any defenders in the Premier League so Liverpool fans will hope to see the best of him on Saturday.
His counterpart will definitely be Wes Morgan. Ironically, the 32-year old defender already has one goal to his belt this season. A strong solid defender, he will look to keep the Leicester’s back four solid from the runs of Roberto Firmino.
2. Jordan Henderson vs. Riyad Mahrez
Jordan Henderson will likely be sitting deep in midfield and contain the threat of last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez. Liverpool have already conceded six goals in three games, so Klopp would certainly demand more from his captain to help the back four.
3. Sadio Mane vs. Danny Drinkwater
Lucky to escape a red card at White Hart Lane, Liverpool fans hope Sadio Mane would continue his fine form and bag a goal or two in this match. There are a lot of criticism regarding his consistency but I am sure he will repay the faith shown by Klopp with a good performance on Saturday.
Similar to Jordan Henderson, Danny Drinkwater will do most of the defensive work in midfield. His biggest asset would be his long, direct through balls that could easily feed the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. He would probably put the disappointment of not starting for England in midweek behind him and put in a great shift for Leicester.
4. Dejan Lovren vs. Jamie Vardy
Signed from Southampton in 2014, he was regarded as the next Jamie Carragher by Brendan Rodgers. His Liverpool career surely has its ups and downs but I do not think he is the centre back that Liverpool fans have been craving for. Always has a mistake or two in his play when under pressure, he is definitely a liability at the back now with Jamie Vardy running through the channels.
Not a strong start to the season from Jamie Vardy with just one goal thus far against Swansea. He will surely want to prove that his 24 goals in the Premier League last season was not a fluke by any means.