Liverpool knows that nothing less than a win will be enough to keep its pursuit of the top four spots alive, but that will not be an easy task against a Leicester City side in dire need of a result.

The lowest-ranked team in the division that is not mathematically relegated yet, Leicester could climb above both Leeds United and Everton with a win, and has a better goal difference than both of those teams.

Liverpool, though, needs to not only win but get the three points and rack up some goals in a bid to get its own goal difference closer to that of Newcastle in case of a tie on points.

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Liverpool is currently seven behind on the goal difference score compared to Newcastle (but is comfortably ahead of Manchester United already). Leicester and Southampton are the fixtures in which it is more likely to close that gap considering the other game is against high-flying Aston Villa.

These are the teams that some of our Liverpool.com writers would select for the game at the King Power Stadium.

Matt Addison – Keep Gakpo in the deeper role

After a nine-day gap, and with five more days until Aston Villa, this is about going full tilt. That makes the back five, including Alisson, pretty easy to work out for me, assuming there are no last-minute injuries.

In front of the first-choice goalkeeper and defense, I’m going with Curtis Jones again, while Fabinho is a certainty as the holding player. Jordan Henderson is the obvious choice as the third midfielder, and there is an argument for going more attacking with Harvey Elliott, but I’m going with Cody Gakpo, who was deployed there against Brentford.

Up top, Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah will be on the flanks with Diogo Jota able to play as the number nine thanks to Gakpo being further back, with Darwin Núñez then the forward option to bring off the bench.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Gakpo, Jones; Salah, Jota, Díaz

Predicted scoreline: 3-1 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch:Whether Núñez can make more of an impact off the bench than he has lately.

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Tom Beattie – Underrated captain should return to XI

Playing just one game a week at this stage of the season does feel a little strange in some respects, particularly after the quadruple tilt last year. In some ways, Liverpool’s squad is not really made for just fighting on a single front and so the final few weeks of the season may be a tad frustrating for some players, given the quality throughout Jürgen Klopp’s squad.

However, with the Reds still mathematically in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League this term, the team’s work is far from done this season. Leicester City is fighting for its life at the foot of the table and it will certainly not give up without a fight as the two teams face-off at the King Power Stadium.

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This considered, I would expect Klopp to simply go with his strongest side in terms of both quality and fitness. I would stay with the first-choice back four that faced Brentford over a week ago and also return Jordan Henderson to the side, with the captain better equipped to protect Trent Alexander-Arnold in his adapted role than the likes of Gakpo and Harvey Elliott have done in previous weeks.

I would instead return Gakpo to the ‘false nine’ position with Jota moving out to the left, meaning Núñez— who I felt was ineffective against Brentford — will drop to the bench. Díaz may have to also contend with a role as an impact substitute as he continues his return to full fitness.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Predicted scoreline: 3-2 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch: Liverpool to weather a spirited performance from Leicester.

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Ben Bocsak – Strongest XI

With a nine-day rest, I don’t expect Klopp to make too many changes.

At the back, I expect the same back four that started against Brentford with Alexander-Arnold keeping his new role and shifting into the midfield when in possession of the ball.

In midfield, I think Klopp will line up more conservatively than against Brentford considering Liverpool is playing away from home. That means the captain should return to his midfield role with Jota dropping out of the attack. Henderson’s experience will be vital in a must-win game for Liverpool while Fabinho and Jones keep their place as both have been in form.

Up top, I’m bringing Díaz in who should be fresh after a bit of a rest not starting against Brentford in place of Núñez, simply because I think Gakpo just works a bit better for Klopp’s system at the moment, and I think having Núñez come off the bench could hurt Leicester later on in the game.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Díaz

Predicted scoreline: 5-3 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch: Mohamed Salah to score a hat-trick.

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