Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes could be available to face the Premier League leaders Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day. The 22-year-old injured his ankle in a clash with Ederson during the defeat at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.
Fortunately for Brendan Rodgers the injury is not as severe as initially feared but it remains touch and go whether or not the Leicester star will be passed fit in time for this one.
Will Leicester City overcome Liverpool on Boxing Day?
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Barnes has made 17 appearances in the league this season, scoring one goal and providing five assists. He has been in the starting eleven 67% of the time and according to WhoScored.com his average performance rating currently sits at 6.81/10.
The Englishman, who is valued at £19.8m by TransferMarkt, has a pass success rate of 78% and will be hopeful of being available ahead of arguably the club’s biggest game of the season so far, as those figures suggest he could provide the Foxes with a big boost.
TIF Tactics – Barnes fitness could determine Rodgers approach
Barnes has been operating from the left-hand side in a 4-1-4-1 formation but if he is deemed unable to start we could see Rodgers tweak his system. Leicester face a tough task trying to contain Liverpool fresh off the back of their maiden Club World Cup victory but will hope that the journey and the fact Jurgen Klopp’s side were forced to play extra-time will give the Foxes the upper hand.
Despite their recent defeat, Brendan Rodgers and his players will have gathered enough confidence throughout the first half of the season to believe they are capable of putting Liverpool to the sword, particularly in front of their own fans. It’s the most eagerly anticipated fixture of the Boxing Day programme and it feels as though we’re in for a Christmas cracker.