Liverpool vs Southampton LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League fixture today
Follow all the latest updates from the game at Anfield
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield this afternoon and the question now seems to be when and how they win the Premier League title, rather than if.
With 70 points gathered already, the Reds are on the verge of clinching their first Premier League title for 30 years and there is a real possibility of going the whole season unbeaten, as well as reaching the highest points tally in the league's history.
Southampton are having a fine season, currently sitting in ninth, and the Saints can treat this one as a free hit with the chance to cause a shock. Follow it live:
What time is kick-off?
The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday February 1st.
What TV channel is it on?
The game will not be broadcast on UK television.
You can catch highlights on Match of the Day on BBC One on Saturday night.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Leicester City vs Chelsea today.
Team news - Leicester vs Chelsea
Leicester City
Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Choudhury, Perez, Maddison, Tielemens, Barnes, Vardy
Team news
The big news this morning is that Chelsea boss, Frank Lampard, has dropped No. 1 goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to the bench. Willy Caballero starts in his place for the first time in a Premier League match since 12th May last year where he kept a clean sheet against... Leicester.
"It's a decision I have not taken lightly," said Lampard. "I trust in Willy Caballero, I trust in both keepers."
The match today is a battle between third and fourth. Leicester have had an exceptional season and gotten themselves into third place in the Premier League with an eight point gap over Chelsea.
Naturally the Blues can narrow it today if they win at the King Power Stadium. For Leicester a win brings them closer to securing a place in next season's Champions League as another three points would mean they would go 17 points clear of Manchester United in fifth with 14 games to play.
Team news
Brendan Rodgers makes just one change to the Leicester side that demolished West Ham 4-1 last time out.
Nampalys Mendy is still unavailable so Hamza Choudhury starts in mid-field. In a late call Wilfred Ndidi was removed from the starting line-up due to a sore knee.
Frank Lampard on the other hand makes four changes to his Chelsea side that drew 2-2 with Arsenal in their last match.
As reported Willy Caballero takes the goalkeeping spot from under pressure Kepa Arrizabalaga with Pedro and Mason Mount coming into the midfield in place of Willian and Mateo Kovacic.
In defence Reece James starts instead of Emerson.
The January transfer window closed last night and despite having their transfer ban lifted Chelsea made no new signings to bolster their squad.
Olivier Giroud was hoping for a move away from London but with no replacement lined up, Frank Lampard decided to keep hold of the French striker:
In a pre-match interview Brendan Rodgers has been lamenting his team's loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and giving an update on Wilfrd Ndidi. He said:
"It’s part of the journey, you hope to get to finals and when you don’t it is a sore one. But you have to take it and use it to move forward.
"I’ve got a great group, who are very honest and within a couple of days they were back on it. With 14 games to go it’s about getting as many points as we can."
On Ndidi, he added: "He’s felt a pain in his knee, he recently had an operation but was alright against Villa.
"We had him in to play but it’s become very sore. Rather than him go out in the warm-up we thought we’d leave it. We don’t want any long term problems."
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has given updates on Tammy Abraham's knock and leaving out Kepa Arrizabalaga. He said:
"We know Leicester are a good side it hasn't gone amiss on us. They are a very good team, we played them earlier in the season and we saw that, so we'll need to be really competitive.
"It's a decision I make [leaving out Kepa]. With the keeper you don't take those ones lightly. They train together, they are are close and it's one I thought I'd make for this game. I trust in Willy [Caballero], he's very professional."
About Tammy Abraham he added: "Sometimes you have to play with a bit of pain. He's not got a muscle injury you hope he can deal with it. We wanted to get him on the pitch and he's trained the last two days."
Chelsea haven't beaten Leicester in the last four Premier League games between the two sides, losing one and drawing three.
This is Leicester's best run against Chelsea since a five-match unbeaten streak between April 1999 and February 2001.
However, Chelsea have good memories at the King Power Stadium, winning five of their last seven Premier League matches here and six in all competitons, more than any other visiting team.
In the six most recent clashes between the two teams Leicester have failed to gain a win, losing three and drawing three. Can they change that today?
They'll have a good chance based on Chelsea's recent form. The Blues have won one of their last four league fixtures, and only four of their last 12.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments