Leeds United will resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday by welcoming Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Elland Road.
The Whites have made a slow start to the new campaign, losing one and drawing two in their opening three games. After being humbled by bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford in their season opener, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have shown resilience and determination to battle back from behind to draw their last two games.
Liverpool, on the other hand, were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Chelsea at Anfield before the international break, thereby, ending their 100 per cent start to the 2021/22 campaign. Klopp will expect a better performance at Leeds United after the Reds looked lost for ideas and invention in their last game.
Leeds United vs Liverpool—Team News
Leeds United
Junior Firpo, Mateusz Klich (both Covid-19) and Stuart Dallas (personal reasons) are all available to face Liverpool but Robin Koch remains out with a pubis problem.
Raphinha is available for selection after the Brazilian FA waived the 5-day ban by FIFA that would have seen him miss out. Deadline day signing Daniel James is also available to make his debut on Sunday.
Premier League players cleared to play this weekend by Fifa after Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay agree to waive automatic 5-day restriction.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) September 10, 2021
Eight goals conceded in three games clearly suggest the Whites must strengthen their backline starting from goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The young goalkeeper will be raring to keep his first clean sheet on Sunday but that won’t be an easy task. Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Luke Ayling will be a part of the three-man backline with Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo operating as wing-backs.
Kalvin Phillips is one of the first names on Bielsa’s team sheet and he’ll have to be at the top of his game to stop the Liverpool attackers from penetrating the Leeds backline. Mateusz Klich will need to drop deeper a lot of times and help Phillips out, as a lot will ride on the midfield duo’s shoulders.
Liverpool
On their injury front, Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino are continuing to recover from injuries and veteran midfielder James Milner is yet to start training. Virgil van Dijk has shaken off a minor knock sustained on international duty with the Netherlands and is available for selection, as well as Naby Keita and Harvey Elliot. Alisson Becker and Fabinho are also available.
In Alisson unavailability, young Caoimhín Keller will deputise in goal against Leeds United. In front of Keller, Klopp is expected to have the back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson.
Thiago Alcantara could receive his first start of the season on Sunday, and he might feature alongside Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Roberto Firmino’s injury means Diogo Jota is likely to lead the Reds attack at Elland Road. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are crucial players for Klopp and are certain to keep their places in the starting XI.
Leeds United vs Liverpool—Predicted Lineups
Leeds United Predicted Lineup (3-3-3-1): Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Liam Cooper; Junior Firpo, Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas; Raphinha, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford
Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara; Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane
Leeds United vs Liverpool—Key Players
Leeds United—Patrick Bamford
Patrick Bamford will lead Bielsa’s troops from the front. The English striker, who has a goal and an assist in three games so far, will look to make life difficult for the Liverpool defenders with his movement and aerial ability.
Liverpool—Mohamed Salah
With 22 goals, Mohamed Salah finished second in the Golden Boot standings last season. He has started the new campaign in blistering fashion with two goals and as many assists in three games and will relish the opportunity to play against a shaky Leeds backline that is prone to crumbling in pressure.
Prediction: Leeds United 2-3 Liverpool