The champions travel to Merseyside this weekend, and these individual match-ups will go a long way to deciding the outcome.
Traditionally, Anfield has not been a happy hunting ground for Leicester City. The Foxes have not won there since 2000, and it was one of only two away grounds on which they were defeated during their remarkable league-winning campaign last time out.
Claudio Ranieri’s side return to Merseyside this Saturday in the evening kick-off, and below is a look at the three key individual battles that will determine whether it is the hosts or the visitors who will take the points.
Jordan Henderson vs Danny Drinkwater
One of the more intriguing clashes lies in the centre of the park, where the current occupant of an England international midfield spot goes up against the player that some think should be there in his place.
Henderson has been disappointing so far this season – a video went viral of his poor performance in the defeat at Burnley – and is not claiming games by the scruff of the neck in the way that Liverpool fans expect their captains to do.
Drinkwater, on the other hand, is having to work even harder without the tireless N’Golo Kante next to him in Leicester’s midfield, but is so far responding well to the challenge. The 26-year-old is sticking to the formula that saw him play such a key role in last season’s success; busily intercepting opposing attacks, using the ball quickly and efficiently and releasing the ball into the channels for Jamie Vardy to chase.
This weekend’s match is a big opportunity for the Leicester man to prove his credentials against top-class opposition, and Sam Allardyce is likely to be watching on with interest to see which of these two come out on top.
Dejan Lovren vs Jamie Vardy
When Leicester and Liverpool met at the King Power Stadium last season, Jamie Vardy stole the show. The striker’s two goals – the first of which was a superb dipping effort which became a goal of the season contender – were the difference between the two sides and marked a point at which pundits and fans truly started to believe that the miracle could be on.
Dejan Lovren has recovered from a well-publicised poor start to his Liverpool career to become a mainstay of the Reds back four under Jurgen Klopp. He has largely shaken off the errors that used to blight his performances, and Liverpool fans will be hoping the Croatian can form a steady partnership with exciting new defensive addition Joel Matip.
However, Liverpool have conceded six goals in their opening three games, and Vardy has already netted twice for Leicester – Lovren will have to be on top of his game to keep the England man quiet at Anfield.
Adam Lallana vs Danny Simpson
Adam Lallana has had a promising start to the season, with goals for club and country suggesting that he has found the missing piece in his jigsaw and can now start finding the net on a regular basis.
His Achilles heel has always been goalscoring, but a clinical finish in Liverpool’s opening game at Arsenal followed by his first international goal for England last weekend means the former Southampton man will be going into this weekend full of confidence.
The England man should be influential against the Foxes, as Danny Simpson is arguably the weak link in Leicester’s impressive back four. Simpson has pace but often struggles against trickier players, and the former Newcastle full-back could be in for a torrid afternoon if Lallana continues his impressive form.
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