The 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend ensured that Liverpool went into Christmas with a solid four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table having played a game less than their rivals. The Reds are in a festive mood after a solid first half of the season and will look to keep their momentum going with another three points when Leicester City come to Anfield later this evening. One look at Liverpool’s record on Boxing Day would suggest that anything other than a home win would be a major shock.
Arne Slot has reminded everyone that he didn’t win either of the two fixtures when his Feyenoord side took on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV Eindhoven side in the Dutch Eredivisie.
The Liverpool manager is trying hard to keep everyone’s feet on the ground amidst his side’s rampaging campaign and has been insistent that his side are yet to win anything this season.
Van Nistelrooy won his first game as Leicester manager against West Ham but his side are coming into the Boxing Day game at Anfield on the back of two league defeats against Brentford and Chelsea respectively.
No one is backing the Foxes to get anything from the game with Liverpool massive favourites to not only get three points but win handsomely with a big margin against a side battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
Liverpool have been terrific at home this season and Leicester fans would not want to check their record in Boxing Day fixtures if they want to get inside Anfield with an iota of hope of getting something from the game.
Boxing Day delight awaits Liverpool fans
The last time Liverpool lost a game on Boxing Day, Brendan Rodgers was the Reds manager and Manchester United were defending Premier League champions.
It has been a while since Leeds tasted defeat on Boxing Day and they have won their last six on this marquee date in the English football calendar.
A 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad in 2013 was their last defeat on Boxing Day, which means they have been unbeaten in these games for over a decade.
Liverpool have won their last six on Boxing Day with the last three games being on the road against Leicester, Aston Villa and Burnley. They scored 19 goals and conceded just once in those games.
There is a reason Liverpool are fancying their chances of getting another three points when they host Leicester at home later in the evening.
In fact, the Foxes lost their last two games against Liverpool on Boxing Day, a 1-0 defeat at Anfield in 2015 and a 4-0 hammering at the King Power Stadium four years later.
On current form, Van Nistelrooy would be more than happy if his Leicester side left Anfield with only a 1-0 defeat to their name like in 2015.
Liverpool’s overall record on Boxing Day is excellent as well, playing 92 times, winning 45, drawing 24 and losing 23.
But the Reds must not grow complacent
Liverpool were expected to beat Fulham in their last home game but were left scrambling to get a point at the end of a pulsating 2-2 draw.
A red card or an injury to a key player and suddenly, the evening could look very different from the Reds and they must ensure that they do not look too far ahead.
Slot has been working hard to ensure that his players remain focused on the job and do not allow complacency to set in when the Reds host Leicester at home later in the evening.
They have the better players and are in better form than the Leicester side and the Reds must back themselves to overcome a team battling at the wrong end of the table.
