Jurgen Klopp says he is expecting a real fight as Liverpool travel to face relegation-threatened Leicester in the Premier League.
Liverpool continue their push for European football at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening, against a Leicester side desperately battling to preserve their Premier League status.
The Foxes are in the Premier League’s bottom three after a difficult season so far and lost 5-3 at Fulham last weekend. Leicester face the prospect of relegation to the Championship, just seven years after the club were crowned Premier League champions.
Ahead of the clash, Klopp discussed Leicester’s situation and said he is expecting a ‘super intense game’ against a Foxes team battling to survive.
“It was the first season I arrived here, Leicester won the league (2016). Special story, very special story. Will stay forever. But yeah, obviously their situation is really different,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t really want to compare Brendan’s team or Dean’s team. They are in a relegation battle, that is obvious. I saw the game against Everton. Really good spells in the game and really good footballing team.
“But in the relegation battle, you are not always the best versions of yourselves, so that’s why it makes it so difficult. But what we have to expect as a team is one who wants to stay in the league and will fight with all they have. I’ve told the boys already. This is now the real fight. A home game for Leicester. They need all the points they can get. It will be a super difficult and super intense game.”
Klopp provided an update on the fitness of his squad and confirmed that Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita remain out.
“No. They are not in team training yet. I saw Bobby in training yesterday and he looks pretty much nearly there, but I don’t think he will be in for the weekend. I assume we start team training with him after the Leicester game. And Naby, no.”
