Both Liverpool and Leicester City will be looking to build on their positive finishes to 2014 when they meet in the Premier League at Anfield on New Year's Day.
The Foxes still enter 2015 bottom of the table, but ended a 13-match winless run, 11 of which had been defeats, with a 1-0 victory at Hull City on Sunday.
That result will relieve the pressure on under-fire boss Nigel Pearson amid the sacking season - with two top-flight managers having lost their jobs in the past week.
While City are still in a perilous position - only two teams have survived having been bottom of the Premier League on Boxing Day - their win over relegation rivals Hull took them to within three points of safety.
Pearson's opposite number has also found himself under heavy scrutiny of late following a start to the season which saw Liverpool fall way short of the expectations set by their close-run title challenge of last season.
The eighth-placed Reds are eight points worse off than they were at this stage 12 months ago, already 18 behind table-topping Chelsea, and have been knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.
However, Brendan Rodgers and his squad feel that they are starting to turn the corner following successive wins - the latest of which came accompanied with an eye-catching performance in beating Swansea City 4-1.
Adam Lallana, who also scored in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over the Foxes in December's reverse fixture, was the star of the show as he bagged twice and combined beautifully with Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling.
Those trio are likely to comprise the attacking three again, with Rodgers currently reluctant to use recognised strikers Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini or Mario Balotelli in starting roles, and Daniel Sturridge injured.
There should still be changes for the hosts, with captain Steven Gerrard returning and Martin Skrtel missing through suspension. Kolo Toure could come in, and Javi Manquillo drop out of the 3-5-2 system.
Pearson has chopped and changed all campaign, but will be tempted to name as close as side as possible to the one which earned Leicester their long-awaited win, although Paul Konchesky is banned.
While winger Jeffrey Schlupp could deputise, Richie de Laet would be a more sensible alternative at left-back. Leonardo Ulloa faces a late fitness test, with Jamie Vardy back from a ban and ready to return if required.
Algerian Riyad Mahrez scored the winner at Hull and has been a shining light for the Foxes, but is soon leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations and will join an absentee list of Kasper Schmeichel, Andy King and Matthew Upson.
Leicester's last win over Liverpool came in March 2001, courtesy of goals from Ade Akinbiyi and Muzzy Izzet.
Liverpool:
Form in Premier League: WDLDWW
Form in all competitions: DLWDWW
Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Can, Toure, Sakho; Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Coutinho, Moreno; Lallana, Sterling
Leicester:
Recent form: LLLLLW
Possible starting lineup: Hamer; Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, De Laet; Mahrez, James, Cambiasso, Schlupp; Nugent, Ulloa
Sports Mole says: 3-1
Joe Fish
