Liverpool will host Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday, looking to bounce back from the defeat against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Liverpool picked up a morale-boosting midweek win over Ajax, and they will be reasonably confident of grinding out all three points against a struggling Leeds United side here.
The Reds are currently five points off the top four, and a club of their stature will be expected to qualify for UEFA Champions League football. Liverpool cannot afford to keep dropping points against weaker opposition. So a win over Leeds will be a top priority for Jurgen Klopp and his charges.
Meanwhile, Leeds United are currently 18th in the Premier League table, with just two wins from 11 matches. They are one of the favourites to go down this season, and Jesse Marsch will be under pressure to grind out a morale-boosting result here.
Leeds will have seen how inconsistent Liverpool have been this season. So the Whites might fancy their chances of pulling off an upset at Anfield. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Join us LIVE as Jürgen Klopp looks ahead to tomorrow night’s meeting with Leeds 🎙#LIVLEE
https://t.co/OdQKYI3ebq— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 28, 2022
Liverpool will be without the services of Luis Diaz, Arthur, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota for this game. Jordan Henderson came off injured against Ajax and is a doubt here.
The Reds are expected to start in a 4-4-2 formation, with Alisson Becker taking his place between the sticks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson should retain their place as the full-backs after impressing against Ajax. At the heart of the Liverpool defence, Joe Gomez will continue to partner Virgil van Dijk, as the two players look to get back to their best.
Harvey Elliott scored an outstanding goal against Ajax, and he will continue to start on the right side of the midfield. The young midfielder will look to provide some width going forward and drift inside as an attacking midfielder from time to time. Fabio Carvalho will be deployed in a similar role on the left-hand side of the midfield.
Thiago Alcantara missed out earlier this week. But the Spanish international is expected to return here alongside Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who will be in charge of disrupting the Leeds buildup.
Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez were both on the scoresheet against Ajax, and they are likely to start in the front two here as well. Roberto Firmino will thus be an option off the bench for Liverpool against Leeds.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago, Carvalho; Salah, Nunez
Leeds United
Leeds United will be without the services of Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas. The visitors are expected to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Illan Meslier starting in goal. Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk will be deployed as the full-backs, while Robin Koch and Liam Cooper will start as the central defenders.
Sam Greenwood and Marc Roca will start in a double pivot and they will be expected to provide cover to centre-backs and break up the Liverpool play. But Greenwood will largely take up positions high up the pitch, looking to assist the Leeds attackers.
Jack Harrison will be one of the main creators for Leeds, and he is expected to start on the right flank. Luis Sinisterra will line up in a similar role on the left flank, with Brenden Aaronson operating as the attacking midfielder here. Spanish forward Rodrigo will lead the line for Leeds against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Greenwood, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Rodrigo
Key Stats
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 29 home matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have won their last five home matches against Leeds United in all competitions.
- Leeds United have lost their last four away matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in their last five home matches against Leeds United in all competitions.
- Leeds have conceded at least two goals in their last three away matches in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez has scored more goals than Gabriel Jesus in 440 fewer minutes this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/CfA4n25YwD
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 27, 2022
Darwin Nunez is expected to get a start here, and he will be hungry to get on the score sheet once again. The Uruguayan striker has scored four goals in his last five appearances, and a leaky Leeds United defence is likely to struggle against him. Expect him to continue his fine run of form.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Leeds United
Neither side has been at their best this season. But Liverpool certainly have the better set of players despite their injury problems. The Reds will have gained some confidence from the midweek win over Ajax.
Liverpool should be able to grind out a win over Leeds here. However, the Whites are no pushovers, and the home side cannot afford to underestimate them. The Hard Tackle predicts a cagey affair that will end with a 2-1 win for Jurgen Klopp’s charges.
