The FIVE Leicester City players ruled out of Liverpool clash as Brendan Rodgers confirms one definite starter

Leicester City will be without several key men for their clash against Liverpool at Anfield this evening.

Brendan Rodgers visits his former stomping ground having come under pressure as Foxes boss.

Rodgers led Leicester to their first FA Cup triumph in the club's history last season, as well as delivering a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

But the King Power Stadium side have failed to kick on this term, having been expected to challenge for a Champions League place.

They're 12th in the table and their FA Cup defence came to an embarrassing end after a 4-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Leicester also crashed out of the Europa League at the group stage.

Things don't get much easier for Rodgers when he takes his side to in-form Liverpool - who've been boosted by the return of talisman Mo Salah.

Jurgen Klopp has virtually a full-fit Reds squad to selection from bar Sadio Mane, who's been celebrating Senegal's AFCON triumph, while Jordan Henderson is a minor doubt with a back issue.

Rodgers doesn't have that luxury, however.

Vardy among five absentees

The Northern Irishman, who was Liverpool manager for just more than three years before being replaced by Klopp in October 2015, has five players unavailable.

Jamie Vardy has been synonymous with Leicester's success in recent years. However, the striker is sidelined for another three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Foxes will also be without highly-experienced defender Johnny Evans. He too has a hamstring complaint that will keep him on the treatment table longer than Vardy.

Meanwhile, Ryan Bertrand has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing a knee operation.

Fellow full-back Timothy Castagne went under the knife because of a thigh issue and won't be available until next month.

Finally, Wesley Fofana hasn't played all campaign after breaking his leg against Villarreal in a pre-season friendly. The French centre-back will hopefully be back playing by the end of the month.

Dewsbury-Hall to start

Rodgers does look set to bring Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall back into his starting line-up against Liverpool, however.

The midfielder was excellent in Leicester's 1-0 defeat of the Reds in the reverse fixture on 28 December.

Yet Dewsbury-Hall was given a breather in the chastening Forest loss - which Rodgers seemingly regretted.

“We took out the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at the weekend to put in a few more experienced players there, but one thing I would definitely say having seen Kiernan over these last couple of months’ play is that we missed him,” Rodgers told the Leicester Mercury.

“We missed his energy, we missed his hunger, and we missed his willingness to prove a point. So I know he will definitely start, that’s for sure.

“Then we’ll put out a team that we think can win the game and do our very best. That’s how it’s always been.

“(Travelling to Liverpool) is the toughest game you could have in the wake of such a result. We showed great spirit the last time we played them, so I know that is there. We need to show hunger and fight.”