Liverpool aims to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League as they prepare to face Leicester City on December 26, 2024, for the traditional Boxing Day match. This highly anticipated bout, part of matchday 18 of the Premier League, will take place at the iconic Anfield stadium. The Reds, managed by Arne Slot, come off the back of a thumping 6-3 victory against Tottenham, marking their intent to continue their strong performance.
Having accumulated 39 points, Liverpool looks to build on their lead over closest competitors, like Chelsea, who are hot on their heels. The team’s attack, led by stars such as Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, has proven lethal this season, scoring 37 goals. The matchup against Leicester City, coached by Ruud van Nistelrooy, could play a pivotal role not only for Liverpool's title ambitions but also for Leicester's struggle to avoid relegation. Currently languishing near the bottom of the table with just 14 points, the Foxes need to turn their fortunes around after suffering a painful 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. "Leicester City needs points to distance themselves from the relegation zone," noted Deportes.
The match is set to kick off at 17:00 Argentina time, which translates to 15:00 Colombia time, and for those across the globe, the kickoff will be at varying times, from 14:00 in Mexico to 21:00 in Spain. Fans can catch the action live through various channels including ESPN, Disney+, and Universo. The build-up to the match is not just about the points; it’s also significant for fans who will relish the thrilling atmosphere of Boxing Day football.
Liverpool is expected to field their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Alisson Becker between the sticks and a strong backline featuring Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson. The midfield is likely to see Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones working to support the attacking trio of Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Díaz, with Gakpo as the leading striker.
Leicester, aiming for resilience, might adopt the same 4-2-3-1 setup. Their lineup could include goalkeeper Danny Ward; defenders James Justin, Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard, and Viktor Kristansen; midfielders Boubakary Soumaré and Oliver Skipp; and forwards Alex McAteer, Facundo Buonanotte, Anass El Khannouss, with the ever-dangerous Jamie Vardy spearheading their attack.
The Boxing Day fixtures have always held importance for the clubs involved, and history shows mixed results for teams leading up to Christmas. Liverpool has previously experienced the 'Christmas curse' where they failed to convert early leads to titles. Having come close on two occasions—during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons—fans are wary but hopeful for their club's performance this year. They will be eager to break this trend, especially after Liverpool's impressive start, leading many to wonder if this time, it will be different.
All eyes will be on Anfield as the excitement builds up for the pivotal clash. Liverpool fans will hope for not just victory but for their team to prove their critics wrong about the Christmas curse. Looking at form, player injuries, and tactical setups, it seems like Liverpool will have the upper hand, but Leicester on the other hand certainly has the capacity for upsets, making this encounter one to watch.
When the final whistle blows, the repercussions of the match could ripple through the standings of the Premier League. For Liverpool, maintaining momentum is imperative as they push for their first title since 2019. For Leicester City, every point is incredibly valuable as they attempt to claw their way out of the relegation zone.
