{"id":10604,"date":"2020-11-14T13:46:48","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T13:46:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/?p=10604"},"modified":"2020-11-14T13:53:42","modified_gmt":"2020-11-14T13:53:42","slug":"reds-set-for-tough-tests-when-premier-league-action-resumes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/2020\/11\/reds-set-for-tough-tests-when-premier-league-action-resumes\/","title":{"rendered":"Reds set for tough tests when Premier League action resumes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Liverpool\u2019s title defence has begun with a record of 5W 2D 1L. The Reds have made it through a number of tough opening fixtures including Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.<\/p>\n
Since the 7-2 humbling at Villa Park, Liverpool have been on top form (even with the absence of Virgil van Dijk) but still remain in the middle of a defensive crisis.<\/p>\n
The return of Joel Matip against Manchester City bolstered Liverpool\u2019s chances at the back but recent injuries to Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander Arnold have made things difficult again.<\/p>\n
Here we will take a look at Liverpool\u2019s first three Premier League fixtures after the international break.<\/p>\n
Leicester City \u2013 22 November 19:15, Anfield <\/strong><\/p>\n Leicester currently sit top of the Premier League table with six wins and two losses from their opening eight fixtures.<\/p>\n Jamie Vardy has once again been Leicester\u2019s star man up front. The Englishman is in contention for the golden boot with the most goals so far (8) alongside Mo Salah, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Hueing-Min Son.<\/p>\n The Foxes are also in the middle of a defensive crisis and Brendan Rodgers has just one senior centre back (Jonny Evans) at his disposal.<\/p>\n However, he won\u2019t have to worry about the attacking presence of Mo Salah after the Egyptian tested positive for coronavirus on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n Leicester have also seen injuries further up the pitch to James Maddison, Wilfred Ndidi and Timothy Castagne, but Leicester just keep on winning and, like Liverpool, their resilience is becoming their greatest asset.<\/p>\n It took a late penalty from James Milner to secure all three points for Liverpool last November before The Reds thrashed Leicester 4-0 on boxing day.<\/p>\n