“The question behind many Liverpool fan’s thousand yard stare is what cruel form of deflation fate is serving up for us if the lead does build, expectation does grow and a title looms into view,” Ian Copestake says. “So for now let’s just win some games and enjoy the ride!”
Ah, the torment of being a fan. Is it possible to be optimistic? The default setting is pessimism for most. Easier that way.
Jurgen Klopp is asked about Manchester City’s defeat last night. “I had a long working day and came home late. I went to my missus and we didn’t watch the game, we watched a movie. When the final whistle happened and Newcastle won, my smart phone was buzz buzz buzz … and I really hate that. If they would have won we would have played tonight. If they lost we would have played tonight. We want to play football and if there is something to celebrate you will see it in my face then.”
Liverpool’s shortage of right-backs means Jordan Henderson is pushed back into defence. In the James Milner role. Milner is suspended after being sent off against Crystal Palace, so Georginio Wijnaldum comes in.
Claude Puel makes three changes after Leicester’s 4-3 defeat to Wolves. Out go Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan and Harvey Barnes. In come Jonny Evans, Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray.
Team news
Liverpool: Alisson; Henderson, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Keita, Shaqiri; Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Mignolet, Fabinho, Lovren, Lallana, Camacho, Origi, Sturridge.
Leicester: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell; Albrighton, Mendy, Ndidi, Gray; Maddison; Vardy. Subs: Ward, Morgan, Simpson, Choudhury, Barnes, Okazaki, Iheanacho.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Preamble
First Roy Hodgson, now Rafa Benitez; at this rate Liverpool will have the title sewn up in no time at all if they can persuade Manchester City’s next few opponents to hire Gerard Houllier, Roy Evans and Graeme Souness. All it takes, it seems, to turn the race into a procession is for former Liverpool managers to stand in Pep Guardiola’s way and come to Jurgen Klopp’s aid. Hodgson’s Crystal Palace managed it last month and Benitez did his old side a huge favour last night, with Newcastle’s shock win over City opening the door for Liverpool to establish a seven-point lead over the champions. All hail Rafa! Still a Kopite after all those years.
Presumably the locals be singing the Spaniard’s name lustily at Anfield this evening. After all, what an opportunity this is for Liverpool. They still have 15 games left and know there’s plenty of football to play – but a seven-point lead over City as they head into February is the stuff of dreams for a team who have only lost once in 23 matches. If they can handle Leicester tonight, they’ll be entitled to think that 29-year itch is going to be scratched in May.
Mind you, the question is whether they can keep a lid on all that bubbling emotion. We’ve been here before with Liverpool. We’ve seen what can happen. We know Klopp shouldn’t go asking Brendan Rodgers for any tips on keeping the pitch nice and slick. Instead Liverpool’s task here is not to get too far ahead of themselves; they need to maintain the calm, cold and ruthless mentality that has taken them this far, not to mention keep in mind that Leicester are a very good counterattacking side who have already beaten Chelsea and City this season. It isn’t over yet.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
Updated