Liverpool's Cody Gakpo Claims No Extra Motivation Needed For Leicester Match

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Liverpool's Cody Gakpo believes his team doesn't need extra motivation to secure a win against Leicester City. The Reds are determined to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table. They recently achieved a 6-3 victory over Tottenham, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 21 matches across all competitions. Currently, Liverpool is four points ahead in the league standings with a game in hand.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester City's manager, started his tenure with two wins but has since faced two losses, including a 3-0 defeat by Wolves. This leaves Leicester just two points above the relegation zone. Jamie Vardy, who has scored six goals this season, might miss the match due to an injury. Van Nistelrooy remains optimistic despite recent setbacks.

Mohamed Salah is a standout player for Liverpool. He has scored 99 goals in 141 home Premier League games and could become the eighth player to score over 100 home goals in the competition. Salah also excels on Boxing Day, contributing six goals and four assists, more than any current Premier League player.

Jamie Vardy is crucial for Leicester City. He has scored eight times against Liverpool in the Premier League, only behind Andrew Cole and Harry Kane. If he scores in this match, Vardy would be the oldest player to net against Liverpool in the league at nearly 38 years old.

Liverpool have been dominant at home against Leicester, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League encounters (10 wins and 2 draws). Leicester's recent form against Liverpool shows just two wins from their last 12 meetings (1 draw and 9 losses). Historically, they haven't lost four consecutive league games to Liverpool since between 1987 and 1996.

The Reds are enjoying their longest unbeaten run since a streak of 25 matches between April and November 2021. They have also won their last seven Boxing Day league games, marking their longest-ever such run. In contrast, Leicester has struggled on Boxing Day, winning only once in their last ten attempts.

Opta Win Probability

According to Opta's win probability model, Liverpool holds an overwhelming chance of victory at 82.6%. A draw stands at 10.6%, while Leicester City's chances of winning are slim at just 6.8%. This prediction reflects Liverpool's strong form and historical advantage over Leicester City.

Gakpo expressed enthusiasm for the busy schedule: "I think nobody can wait for it," he said. "We are eager to go out there again and to win the game." He added that no extra motivation is needed as they know their goals for every competition this season.

Van Nistelrooy remains focused on improving Leicester's position: "The squad is good [after the Wolves defeat], they're fine," he stated. "We know what position we're in." Despite recent losses, he sees positives from previous games and aims to ensure Leicester deserves its place in the league.

Liverpool's impressive form contrasts with Leicester's struggles this season. The Reds' consistency makes them favourites for this encounter as they aim to maintain their lead at the top of the table while extending their unbeaten run further into the season.