Liverpool vs Leicester team news: Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren fit for Boxing Day clash

Liverpool will welcome back Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren for the visit of Leicester City following their injuries. The duo both missed the 3-0 defeat to Watford but are now git to resume their campaigns. However Martin Skrtel and James Milner are among seven absentees for the game against the Premier League leaders.

Mignolet suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the game at Vicarage Road and was replaced by Adam Bogdan, while Lovren was stretchered off against West Bromwich Albion after picking up a nasty cut on his knee. Both players are available to Klopp once again but their result is offset by fresh additions to the Reds' treatment room.

Skrtel has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring problem picked up in the defeat to Watford, while Milner – who missed the game with a calf issue – will also be absent for the first of three games around Christmas and New Year. Jordan Rossiter is out with a hamstring complaint while Daniel Sturridge could be as little as a week away from a return.

"Martin Skrtel is not too good," Klopp told a pre-match press conference, according to the Liverpool Echo. "It's a hamstring, he needs time but we don't know how long. Dejan Lovren is back in training and has trained two days in a row. He's available."

Along with ending a run of four games without a win, among the issues at the top of Klopp's in-tray is Liverpool's plans in the upcoming January transfer window. Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic has reportedly moved to Merseyside according to his former club however the German boss is none the wiser over any swoop being completed and he reiterated his caution over making deals.

"There's nothing to tell about [transfers]," the Liverpool manager admitted. "We tried to be prepared all the time but this window in January is not easy. Prices are very high. I'm not the biggest friend of January window."

The manner in which Liverpool have been defeated in recent meetings with Watford and Newcastle United means Klopp is under pressure to turnaround the club's fortunes and reignite their bid to qualify for the Champions League. Claudio Ranieri's Leicester travel to Anfield weekend and Klopp has plenty of respect for the surprise leaders.

"Ranieri is one of the most experienced coaches in the world," he added. "There is big respect on both sides. They play nearly perfect counter-attacking football. Very quick. I have big respect for Claudio and whole squad of Leicester. Leicester don't need many chances to score. They have had no injuries, a whole week to train. I'm not surprised. They have quality."