Liverpool still world-class with key players out, says Leicester’s Rodgers

Liverpool still world class with key players out, says Leicester’s Rodgers.

Leicester City does not expect Premier League champion Liverpool to be weakened despite missing important players due to injury and illness ahead of Sunday’s clash between the teams, manager Brendan Rodgers said on Friday.

Rodgers’ former side is without central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez after both had knee surgery, while right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and skipper Jordan Henderson are also nursing injuries.

Forward Mohamed Salah is unavailable after contracting COVID-19 during the international break while midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are battling to return having been out with injuries.

Rodgers, however, said that Liverpool has the squad depth to cope with its problems.

“They’ve got top class players. We’ve seen it ourselves with our injuries that the players have come in and done really well and that’ll be the same for them,” Rodgers told reporters ahead of the clash at Anfield.

“It’s an extremely difficult one. Even with players missing it’s still a squad of world-class players. You’re going to have to be aggressive when you’re defending and clinical in attack. You want to play the best and they have clearly been that.”

Leicester is third in the standings after eight games with 18 points, two less than current leader Tottenham and tied with Chelsea and only below on goal difference, but Rodgers said he would not be drawn into talking about the title race.

“We’ve only played eight games. We want to keep the humility we have in the group and prepare as best as we can for every game,” Rodgers said.