Leicester City Vs Liverpool: Opponent watch with Andrew Beasley

Claude Puel’s charmed Leicester City will have their sternest test when they take on Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have had the Fortune Gods on their side in the last two matches, which they found a way to win despite not playing particularly well.

What best defines Leicester so far is that they blow hot and cold too often. They can produce some balefully exquisite football for 20 minutes, and before you know it, they’d simply switch off.

While such short bursts of brilliance did the job for them against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, Liverpool are an entirely different proposition. They are title contenders. As they visit the East Midlands on Saturday, Foxes of Leicester talked to Andrew Beasley to know more about the Reds.

Three games, three clean sheets, seven goals and three wins – that’s as perfect a start as Jurgen Klopp could have hoped for. How would you rate the performances so far? 

"“The performances have all been pretty good, albeit they’ve got less dominant as the games have gone by.“But that’s fine at this stage of the season as long as you’re winning. There’s also the fact they haven’t had any really tough tests yet, but they’ve deserved to win every match and have done so. You really can’t ask for much more than that.”"

A fair few number of people have adjudged Liverpool as the title favourites based on what they have seen so far. Others – the more sceptical ones –  are holding out for when the Reds come up against someone from the top six. Which side are you on? 

"“Oh they’re definitely not the favourites. How can they be when they finished 25 points behind Manchester City last season? But I do think they are deservedly second favourites with the bookmakers, and can perhaps run City close.“Liverpool have had seasons in the last decade when they’ve got into the mid-80s for points but there’s been an even better team who’ve won the title. Right now I think 2018/19 could pan out like that.”"

Liverpool’s most testing phase begins with Leicester City. Three of their next four fixtures are against Tottenham Hotspur (A), Chelsea (A) and Manchester City (H). Does that make the visit to the King Power Stadium any more important? Does that make it a must win? 

"“To be honest, I hate the phrase ‘must win’ most of the time, and especially in the first month of the season!“But of course, as tough as a trip to Leicester is, it certainly represents one of Liverpool’s easier matches in their next five. However, winning their first three games does mean the pressure is off just a little ahead of Saturday’s match.”"

We know that Liverpool have got quality across all areas of the pitch – which makes it a silly question to ask – but who is that one player who you think Leicester City should be most worried of? Someone they should specifically look to mark out of the game, and possibly effect the result?

"“As Salah scored home and away against Leicester on his way to winning the Golden Boot last season, it would be natural to say him! But Sadio Mané has started 2018/19 better, even if he had an off day against Brighton last weekend.“And could this be the game where Firmino gets his first goal of the season? He was amazing last year, but has been doing his pre-season work in the first few matches as he basically missed the whole of the build up thanks to the World Cup.”"

Were I to ask you to nitpick, who or what would you point to as the weak link in what is a very strong team – at least on paper? 

"“Right now I honestly don’t think there’s a seriously weak link in the team. While Joe Gomez has done very well so far this season, he is otherwise unproven at centre-back at this level and is still a young player, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a slight dip at some point.”But I don’t consider him a weak link based on his performances so far. Either way, I’m certainly glad Jamie Vardy is missing this one!”"