Van Dijk arrival boosts Liverpool

The £75 million fee - a world record for a defender - which Liverpool agreed with Southampton for the Dutch international this week addresses some of their shortcomings at the back.

Even before Van Dijk's capture, Klopp's side were well on course for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification thanks to their fearsome forward line.

A 5-0 Boxing Day thrashing of a woeful Swansea side took Liverpool's goal total to 12 in three games and extended their unbeaten league run to 11 matches.

If only their defence had not fallen apart in a 3-3 draw at Arsenal four days earlier, Liverpool might be in an even more comfortable position. 

Their attack, though, is ruthless at present. 

Roberto Firmino has scored four in Liverpool's last three matches, Philippe Coutinho three and Mohamed Salah two. 

Coutinho's sublime finish for the opening goal against Swansea gave Barcelona yet another reason to try to buy him in January.

Liverpool managed to fend off three bids during July and August, but it increasingly appears as if the best they can hope for now is to hang on to him until the end of this season. 

For now, though, Klopp can make full use of those attacking options, and may well be tempted to rotate them as Liverpool face up to three games in seven days, with the Leicester match followed by a league trip to Burnley on Monday and an FA Cup home tie against Everton the following Friday.

Sadio Mane, an unused substitute against Swansea, is the likeliest candidate to come in, although Dominic Solanke is another option, while Daniel Sturridge is also set to be available after being absent on Boxing Day because of illness. 

Klopp had to readjust his midfield against Swansea, with captain Jordan Henderson out until February because of a hamstring injury. 

That gave Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain only his sixth Premier League start for the club, and he enhanced his chances of a seventh by scoring his third goal of the season.