Firstly, a very merry Christmas to you all. Whatever your team If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're either a neutral, surfing for footy news before the next bout of turkey arrives, or most likely, a Liverpool fan. I prefer to think the latter. The festive program kicks off for Liverpool fans with the visit of Leicester City FC to Anfield this afternoon.
After recent disappointments, what better way to return to winning ways and send a message to the rest of the watching public that Liverpool is back, than to record a convincing win against the league leaders. Liverpool have not turned into a bad team overnight. Granted, the squad does need improving as well as the overall consistency being displayed in performances.
However, they remain a quality side and a fixture against Liverpool Football Club remains one that many other side's look out for every season. To that extent, we as fans, not to mention the team too, need to embrace this and show why exactly it is. It's not simply because there's easy pickings at corners and a dodgy defence. It's because they are among the top teams and playing the Reds of Merseyside means any team is rubbing shoulders with the best.
For today's game, Liverpool will host one of the surprise packages of the season. A look at the Premiership table shows that all three newly promoted clubs are more than holding their own against more illustrious opponents and today's visitors are the prime example. In terms of selection, there is some good news with regard to injuries. According to physioroom.com both Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet are expected to return. Martin Skrtel and James Milner remain sidelined until early February and January respectively.
In view of his less than impressive display in the last game against Watford, I'd expect Adam Bogdan to return to bench-warming duties and Mignolet retaining his spot between the sticks. Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno should take up the right and left back berths and in the centre of defence, the less than ideal partnership of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren should get the nod. My personal feeling is that the team performs better with three central midfielders in front of the back four and thus Emre Can, Jordan Lucas Leiva and Jordan Hendson should be pencilled in for these places.
Ahead of them, a three man attack of Philippe Coutinho, Christian Benteke and Adam Lallana. Belgian international Benteke has come in for criticism of late, but for me, his ability to pull something extraordinary out of the bag is the team's best chance of success in front of goal right now. Liverpool have lacked a spark in attack recently and this needs to return. With industry in midfield and good supply from wide areas, chances will come. What is crucial is a good start.
Jürgen Klopp pointed out in his pre-game press conference that the team cannot afford to start as they have in recent games. It's fair to say that Liverpool have been architects of their own doom recently. Conceding early goals against Watford and sloppy goals conceded against West Brom and Newcastle have turned tricky encounters into insurmountable ones and the only way anything good will come out of today's game will be if concentration is maintained in defence. Silky tricks and skills are all very nice, as is a moment of brilliance from Benteke,but these count for nothing if goals are thrown away cheaply.
Overall, I'm looking for a good performance. If the team plays the way they can, they should be too strong for Claudio Ranieri's side. Let's face it, they have to lose at some point and there's no reason why that can't happen today afternoon. In spite of recent results, I'm quietly optimistic that they'll be some festive cheer for the fans come 4:45 today. Merry Christmas and a winning New Year.
Follow Ben on Twitter @MrBengreen
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