Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

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Last year's sweet smell of success surrounding Leicester City has been replaced by an air of bitterness following the  abrupt sacking  of Claudio Ranieri.

While the decision has polarised opinion, there's no doubt the title defence has been feeble and their Premier League future was beginning to look less secure with every passing week.

Nonetheless, I'd be surprised not to hear his name ring out around the stadium tonight.

Since the Italian's departure last Thursday the team have slipped into the bottom three for the first time and, with the focus now sharply on the underperforming players, they could hardly face a tougher test than the one Liverpool are likely to give them.

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Emotions ran high across the media and the footballing world when the news of Claudio Ranier's sacking broke before the weekend.

Many argued that winning the title should have banked Ranieri more time to turn things around.

But the cold facts are that they haven't won in the Premier League in 2017, have lost five Premier League games in a row and start the game on 21 points - above Hull on goal difference alone.

Was it all a dream?

It is just nine months since Claudio Ranieri led Leicester to the Premier League title?

A remarkable achievement which was hailed as 'a turning point in Premier League history', 'the biggest thing ever in football',  a 'beautiful story' and 'a fairytale.' 

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But not every fairytale can have a happy ending. Ask the Grimm brothers.

Leicester have sacked Ranieri, and have slipped into the relegation zone. Surely they can't go from Champions League to Championship in a matter of weeks?

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It's a very real possibility. Tonight they face Liverpool. Can the Foxes turn things around?