Liverpool will host Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday, with both teams looking to continue the unbeaten starts to their UEFA Champions League campaigns.
Liverpool have picked up five wins from the last six matches in all competitions, and they will be full of confidence heading into the UEFA Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds have done well against Die Werkself in the last few meetings as well. They will look to extend that run of form against the Bundesliga champions and grind out all three points. Liverpool have picked up three wins from three games in the UEFA Champions League so far, and the home fans will demand a strong showing from the players here.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen have picked up two wins and a draw from their three Champions League outings so far, and they will look to pull off an upset at Anfield. Die Werkself are a formidable side, and they are unbeaten in the last six matches across all competitions. It remains to be seen whether they can grind out a morale-boosting result away from home.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliott due to a foot injury. Alisson Becker has a hamstring injury, Federico Chiesa is struggling for full fitness, and Diogo Jota has an abdominal injury.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Bayer Leverkusen, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add creativity and control to the side from the deep. They will look to keep things compact defensively as well. Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities from the no. 10 role. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Buyer Leverkusen
Jeanuel Belocian and Amine Adli are ruled out for the away side with a foot injury and a broken leg, respectively. Nordi Mukiele picked up a hip injury against VfB Stuttgart, and he will miss out as well.
Bayer Leverkusen will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Liverpool, with Lukas Hradecky in goal. In the back three, Edmond Tapsoba will start alongside Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie.
Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo will start in the wing-back positions. They will look to keep things compact defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Granit Xhaka will start in the centre of the park alongside Aleix Garcia. They will look to add creativity and defensive cover to the side.
Florian Wirtz and Martin Terrier will start in the attacking midfield areas. They will look to create openings in the final third and link up with the central striker. Finally, Victor Boniface will lead the line for Bayer Leverkusen against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Garcia, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Terrier; Boniface
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least three goals in their last three matches against Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions.
- Liverpool have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last three home matches against Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions.
- 19 goals have been scored in the last five meetings between these two sides.
- Both teams are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.
- Both teams are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international has been in exceptional form for Liverpool this season, and he is our key player to watch out for. Salah scored a stunning winner for Liverpool against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, and he will look to continue that form here as well.
The veteran attacker could cause all sorts of problems for Bayer Leverkusen with his ability to create goalscoring opportunities and get on the score sheet. Liverpool will need him to step up and produce a quality performance if they want to grind out a win.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Both teams will be looking to pick up a win here. Neither side is defensive in their approach, and they will look to score goals. This is likely to be an open game with a fair few chances. Liverpool have the better attacking unit, and they will be expected to edge this one. A narrow home win is on the cards here.