Liverpool made a perfect start to the second half of the Premier League season by beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Boxing Day.
Jurgen Klopp's side are chasing a Champions League qualification spot after a tricky start to the campaign. Their recent win at Villa Park has helped them jump up to sixth in the Premier League table, five points behind Tottenham in fourth with a game in hand.
Liverpool will be looking to continue their good form by beating Leicester at Anfield on Friday night. Yet they must do that without new signing Cody Gakpo because he is ineligible to play for the Reds until the transfer window opens on Sunday - New Year's Day.
The Netherlands international, 23, was one of the most sought-after players in Europe after scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games for PSV Eindhoven this season. He also bagged three goals at the recent World Cup in Qatar.
Therefore, Gakpo's first Liverpool game is expected to be the Premier League fixture against Brentford at the Community Stadium on Monday. Although the Dutchman won't be involved against Leicester, Liverpool's injury list didn't grow after the win against Villa.
There are currently six names on that dreaded list. Curtis Jones (shin), James Milner (hamstring) and Roberto Firmino (knock) will not be fit in time for Friday night's game, while Arthur Melo (thigh), Luis Diaz (knee) and Diogo Jota (calf) are long-term absentees.
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The good news is Ibrahima Konate is available to face Leicester after helping France reach the World Cup final in Qatar, where they lost to Argentina on penalties. "No new injury problems after the [Villa] game, not that a lot would come back for the [Leicester] game apart from Ibou," confirmed Klopp at a press conference on Thursday.
"He [Konate] is now training with us, he will be available now as well. So, positive for this moment but we know it will be a tough game."
Although Konate is available for the Leicester game, he is not expected to start. Klopp is set to continue with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip in their heart of his defence, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at right-back and left-back respectively.
Alisson will continue in goal, with Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho in midfield. Captain Jordan Henderson and teenager Harvey Elliott will battle for the final spot in Klopp's midfield, with the latter expected to win the race after impressing against Villa from the bench.
Due to Liverpool's injury list and Gakpo's unavailability, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and one other forward will lead the line. Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain claimed that spot against Villa, but promising youngster Fabio Carvalho is expected to come in against Leicester.
In terms of the Foxes, James Maddison (knee), Dennis Praet (knock), Ryan Bertrand (knee), Jonny Evans (calf), Ricardo Pereira (Achilles) and James Justin (Achilles) will all miss the game. Leicester are looking to bounce back after losing 3-0 to Newcastle on Boxing Day.
Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers, who was Klopp's predecessor at Liverpool, said on Thursday: "Always a difficult game, nobody knows that more than myself, at Anfield. But it’s a great challenge... a great opportunity for us to get out there in a fantastic game."
Liverpool likely XI vs Leicester: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Harvey Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho.
