Leicester vs Liverpool - Foxes midfielder Barnes could be fit to face leaders Liverpool

Posted Tuesday, December 24, 2019 by PA

Harvey Barnes could be fit for Leicester’s Boxing Day showdown with leaders Liverpool.

The midfielder injured his ankle in a clash with goalkeeper Ederson in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City but will be hoping to be available against the Reds.

Matty James is training after his Achilles problem but remains short of match fitness and is likely to be loaned out in January.

Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out until the new year with ankle ligament damage sustained in Saturday’s Club World Cup win over Flamengo in Qatar.

Centre-backs Dejan Lovren (hamstring) and Joel Matip (knee) and midfielder Fabinho (ankle) are also not expected to return until January.

Georginio Wijnaldum was an unused substitute against Flamengo after being ruled fit enough to return from a hamstring problem sustained against Watford, and he could come into contention for a start against the Foxes.

Leicester provisional squad: Schmeichel, Ward, Jakupovic, Chilwell, Justin, Pereira, Morgan, Evans, Fuchs, Benkovic, Soyuncu, Amartey, Gray, Praet, Tielemans, Mendy, Maddison, Albrighton, Barnes, Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi, Perez, Vardy, Iheanacho.

Liverpool provisional squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Adrian, Williams, Milner, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Hoever.