Premier League | Gameweek 33

Apr 20, 2025 at 4.30pm UK

King Power Stadium

Leicester vs Liverpool

Match preview

As Mikel Arteta's team selection against Brentford showed, Liverpool's closest challengers for the Premier League title, Arsenal, are prioritising Champions League glory over an imaginary top-flight title challenge, and the Reds capitalised on their rivals' latest slip-up in round 32.

After the Gunners dropped two points in the London derby with the Bees, Arne Slot's men had to do it the hard way at home to West Ham United, but Luis Diaz's tap-in and a trademark header from inspirational leader Virgil van Dijk settled the scores at Anfield.

April 2025 could well be a month that goes down in Liverpool folklore, as Van Dijk has now followed Mohamed Salah in committing the next two years of his career to the Reds, who need to win just two of their final six games to claim a second Premier League crown.

Indeed, the crown could be wrapped up this weekend if they win at the King Power and Arsenal are stunned away at Ipswich, and although the Reds lost 3-2 away to Fulham last time out, they have not lost consecutive Premier League games on the road since April 2023.

Moreover, Liverpool's two consolation goals at Craven Cottage mean that they have now scored in each of their last six Premier League away games - and 11 of their last 12 - so Leicester fans could be forgiven for resigning themselves to their team's inevitable fate.

With Liverpool closing in on the coveted title, Leicester are on an inexorable slide towards the second tier for the 2025-26 season, and even a shock victory over the runaway leaders may not be enough to keep them afloat with five games to go.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's men finally rediscovered their golden touch in front of goal last weekend, ending an eight-game scoring drought in the Premier League with a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion, but it was too little, too late in their fight for survival.

Now 17 points adrift of safety with just 18 to play, a draw or defeat against Liverpool will see Leicester go down, and even an unexpected triumph will make no difference if Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United both win.

However, having finally put an end to their dreadful goal drought, Leicester can use their new-found attacking confidence to avoid becoming the first team in English top-flight history to go nine consecutive home games without scoring.

Coincidentally, the Foxes' last Premier League goal at the King Power came in a 2-2 draw with Brighton in December, just before they scored a consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Boxing Day, but a consolation goal would be of little comfort to the doomed hosts this time around.

Recent Performance

Leicester City Premier League form:LLLLLD

Liverpool Premier League form:WWWWLW

Liverpool form (all competitions):WLLWLW

Team News

While Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to follow Salah and Van Dijk in signing a new deal, Liverpool have received a boost in the form of the right-back, who could return to the bench this weekend after a month out with an ankle injury.

Darwin Nunez is also expected to return from the illness that kept him out of the win over West Ham, and their potential returns would leave the visitors with just two absentees, with Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Tyler Morton (shoulder) still on the mend.

Salah, who now has the most Premier League goals in a 38-game season, is just three goals/assists away from a new competition record and could write another unique page of history this weekend by becoming the first player to score in six separate games against newly-promoted sides in a Premier League season.

Leicester boss Van Nistelrooy has also confirmed that Wout Faes and Jeremy Monga - the second-youngest Premier League player of all time - will be back in contention after the niggles that kept them out last weekend.

Victor Kristiansen (personal) and Facundo Buonanotte - who was unable to face his parent club last weekend - are also back in contention, but Harry Winks (disciplinary) and Abdul Fatawu (knee) are still out.

Faes' return opens the door for Leicester to switch to a five-man defence, but Van Nistelrooy should reward the starters who battled valiantly at the Amex last weekend, with 38-year-old captain Jamie Vardy continuing to lead the charge.

Possible starting lineup

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Hermansen; Pereira, Okoli, Coady, Justin; Ndidi, Soumare; McAteer, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Gakpo