'One Of The Biggest Hurdles Between Liverpool & The Title'

- James Pearce provides this week's Opposition View ahead of Liverpool's visit to Leicester City on Boxing Day (8pm kick-off)
- The Athletic journalist believes the fixture could prove to be 'one of the biggest hurdles' in Liverpool's title hunt
- A recent trip to Qatar in the FIFA Cup World Cup will not have a big impact on fitness, Pearce says
- Live coverage is available for free on LCFC Radio from 5pm on Thursday evening

Jürgen Klopp's men have been in stunning form this season, dropping just two points and lifting both the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, following last term's Champions League triumph.

Following that Club World Cup success in Qatar last week, the Reds travel to Leicester to face Brendan Rodgers' second-placed Foxes, who are currently 10 points behind.

However, Pearce, who follows Liverpool's fortunes closely, believes the clash at King Power Stadium is a challenge which the Reds consider one of the toughest they will face in 2019/20.

"This is one of the biggest hurdles standing between Liverpool and the Premier League title," Pearce told LCFC.com earlier this week.

"It was a very close game between the two at Anfield earlier on in the season (a 2-1 win for Liverpool) and it was decided by fine margins with the late penalty.

"There’s huge respect there for this Leicester team and what they’ve done under Brendan Rodgers so far this season.

"If you look at the fixtures that Liverpool have got left, it’s one of the toughest, without doubt."

The fixture on Filbert Way will be a first domestic outing for a full-strength Reds side since the 2-0 home victory over Watford on 14 December.

Liverpool elected to field a youthful line-up at Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, which enabled them to lift a first Club World Cup title in their history.

While some have considered the impact travelling to Qatar could have on their fortunes in Leicester, Pearce believes the Merseyside club are well prepared for the test ahead.

"I don’t think fatigue will play a big part in the game," he added. "One of the huge strengths of this Liverpool team is that their fitness levels are extraordinary. 

"Yes, they’ve had a tough schedule, but they’ve been used to coping with a tough schedule. Going to the Club World Cup, they didn’t actually have any extra games.

"It was two games where, if they hadn’t gone, they would have played Villa in the League Cup and then West Ham in the Premier League.

"The only difference is that they had extra-time in Qatar and then you’ve got the seven-hour flight each way, but the way that sports science is these days, it should be fine.

"Speaking to the players afterwards, they enjoyed the moment and they celebrated it in the dressing room, but as soon as they got back to the hotel, all the focus was on Leicester City.

"I asked Joe Gomez if there will be a party and he said his celebration would be a recovery run, so that’s the mentality of them. They know how big this game is.

"The sports scientists, the masseurs, the physios, they leapt straight into action and the players were having treatment on the flight coming back."

All times GMT.