Leicester vs Liverpool - as it happened: Jamie Vardy brace helps fire Foxes to crucial victory over lacklustre Reds
Re-live all the action from the King Power Stadium
Leicester City caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare will take charge of the club for the first time when the relegation strugglers entertain Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.
A priceless win for Crystal Palace against Middlesbrough means Leicester are now in the bottom three, with the club facing the very real threat of becoming the first top-flight team to be relegated the season after winning the title since Manchester City in 1937/38.
Liverpool meanwhile returned to form in their last Premier League match with a confident 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. A win this evening would lift them into third place in the table.
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Key information…
Leicester play their first game since sacking title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri on Monday February 27, against Champions League chasing Liverpool. The match kicks-off at 8pm.
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1. Alternatively, bookmark this page and check back at 7pm to follow all the action with The Independent's live blog.
Team news
Leicester have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their crucial match against Liverpool and will hand late fitness tests to Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa.
Liverpool have been handed a blow with the news that captain Jordan Henderson has been ruled out of the game with a foot problem. The England international was injured in training on Friday following a challenge from a team-mate and will play no part in the game.
It could have been worse, however: Henderson was sent for a scan as there were initial fears he could have broken a metatarsal, which could have potentially ended his season. Fortunately the tests revealed heavy bruising but no fracture.
Dejan Lovren will likely miss a third successive game because of a knee injury while Daniel Sturridge is suffering from a virus, but Ragnar Klavan is fit.
Predicted line-ups…
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Drinkwater, Ndidi; Albrighton, Mahrez, Gray; Vardy.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Lucas, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Coutinho.
Best stat…
Liverpool have won more away games against reigning Premier League champions than any other side (8), including at Stamford Bridge in 2015-16. The Reds are also the only side to have done so in consecutive seasons (2000-01 and 2001-02 vs Man Utd).
It's a big game for...
Jamie Vardy: Rightly or wrongly, Vardy found himself at the centre of a storm last week when Claudio Ranieri was handed his marching orders by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, with dark rumours beginning to circulate that Vardy had been part of a small clique of players that had taken umbrage with the Italian's conduct in recent weeks and effectively forced him out of the club.
Vardy felt strongly enough about the speculation to issue a statement on Instagram, during which he insisted "Claudio has and always will have my complete respect". Regardless, all eyes will be on Vardy this evening.
The forward will however take some solace in his superb record against Liverpool. Leicester's last three Premier League goals against Liverpool have all been scored by Vardy and he is the only Leicester player to score against the Reds at the King Power Stadium.
Player to watch...
Georginio Wijnaldum: Adam Lallana has been winning most of the plaudits, but the growing influence of Wijnaldum in Liverpool's midfield should not go unnoticed and is equally worthy of praise.
Wijnaldum has had a hand in three of Liverpool’s last four Premier League goals, scoring one and assisting two, and has been praised by his manager.
"He has been really good for us, and he has formed a good partnership with Jordan Henderson," Klopp said after the club's recent win against Spurs. "He is a really good combination of an aggressive, defensive midfielder plus a creative, offensive midfield player."
Form guide…
Leicester City: LLWLLL
Liverpool: LLLDLW
Odds…
Leicester to win: 41/10
Liverpool to win: 19/29
Draw: 3/1
(Odds courtesy of 888.com
Jurgen Klopp has just been talking to Sky Sports:
I think it makes sense to change the scenery every now and again.
I wasn't frustrated we couldn't play immediately after the brilliant performance against Spurs. I do not get frustrated at things we cannot change. We tried to use the time wisely.
Unfortunately we can't bring back players - Dejan Lovren is out, Daniel Sturridge was ill and is still recovering and now Hendo (Jordan Henderson) has had a bad knock on his foot so that's not too cool.
They may not be totally responsible but I'm pretty sure the Leicester players feel some responsibility and they will want to play well.
You just have to look at the starting line-up tonight to see they are practically playing the same team who became champions last season so they are going back to their roots as it were. Back to the weapons.
The Claudio fans are out in full force this evening, with their home made signs in tow. It's clearly been a busy day at the city centre branch of Staples.
Will we get a game as exciting as this, this evening?
If the first meeting between these two teams this season is anything to go by - a comprehensive 4-1 win for Liverpool - I wouldn't hold your breath.
10 minutes until kick-off. 10 minutes until Leicester's new age begins. Which means you have just enough time to revel in times that were. Here's Ian Herbert's excellent piece on how Ranieri's sacking just about sums up modern football.
The players have left the tunnel and are walking out onto the pitch. No boos just yet.
The Leicester team is read out by the stadium announcer and every player is loudly cheered. There's absolutely no disunity at the King Power Stadium this evening. It's a full house and the fans are right behind their title-winning side.
1 min: Is this a record for a player down injured? The ball is punted wide to Vardy who overruns it, and then jumps into a tackle with Sadio Mane. The Liverpool forward rolls on the floor before the physios run on to give him a bit of treatment.
3 mins: Mane is back up on his feet and, although he's running about a little gingerly, I think he's going to be fine. Leicester will all the early possession, Vardy appearing to start the match out wide on the left.
4 mins: Bright start from Leicester. Drinkwater makes a strong run down the right and wins a corner off Milner. Albrighton puts it on the backpost, Huth nods it back across, but Okazaki is whistled offside prior to Ndidi rifling a volley narrowly over the bar.
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