Rodgers relishing prospect of Leicester ending Liverpool unbeaten run

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has said that he is backing his players to be the team that end Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run this season.

The Reds have 49 points from 17 games having only dropped two all season, which came in a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United.

Aside from that, Jurgen Klopp‘s side have won 16 games and are currently on the club’s longest-ever Premier League unbeaten run.

However, Boxing Day sees Liverpool travel to the King Power Stadium to face a Leicester side who have emerged as title contenders under Rodgers so far this term.

The Foxes sit second – 10 points behind Liverpool – going into the game but for Rodgers, the allure of the game is about inflicting a first real blow on Klopp’s men.

He said: “You know as a coach it’s going to end at some time so why not be the team that tries to do it? That’s the whole idea.

“The idea first is to get three points. You know they’re a very resilient team.

“They have shown if they’re [not] playing at their best they still get the results somehow, that’s always the mark of a team with a winning mentality, especially when it’s consistent.

“But you know it’s going to end and you want to be the team who can go out there and achieve that. For us, it’s not about the record but getting the three points and get to our 40-point mark.

“Rodgers guided Liverpool to second in 2014 when at the Anfield helm, but they are without a league title since 1990 and the Northern Irishman feels winning the Premier League is his former club’s main goal.

He said: “I think at Liverpool when you haven’t won it in the Premier League era then that is one that is always the one that is missing.

“They have won the Champions League a few times now in the last decade of time but haven’t won the league in that period of time.

“Of course that is a big draw. It is a sign of consistency and a sign you are the best team over 38 games.

“If you have won the league then you are rightly the best team. That is the accolade all the top teams want to achieve.”

Elsewhere, Klopp has claimed that the hectic festive schedule for Premier League sides is a “crime”.

Liverpool – who play on December 29 after facing Leicester – are not the worst side affected, with Manchester City’s clashes against Wolves and Sheffield United coming less than 48 hours apart.

Klopp said: “None of the managers have a problem playing on Boxing Day, but playing on the 26th and 28th is a crime. Absolutely not OK and we still have it.

“This year we play 26th and 29th and it is like a holiday. I understand all those saying it should not happen. They are not moaning.

“It would not be a problem to play 26th and 29th with more teams. There is no reason why more teams do not get more than 48 hours between a Premier League game.”